Brighton draw Monaco, Panathinaikos and Getafe in Conference League league phase

Brighton’s return to European football will include a marquee home meeting with Monaco and demanding trips to Panathinaikos and Getafe after Fabian Hürzeler’s side learned their six Conference League league-phase opponents.

Albion will host Monaco, Universitatea Craiova and Kauno Žalgiris at the Amex Stadium, while their away schedule will take them to Panathinaikos, Getafe and Jablonec.

Monaco’s visit immediately stands out as the headline fixture.

The Ligue 1 side represent the highest-profile opponent in Brighton’s draw and should provide one of the clearest measures of how far Hürzeler’s team can push in their second European campaign.

The away programme presents a different type of difficulty.

Panathinaikos offer significant European experience and a demanding atmosphere in Athens, while Getafe provide Brighton with a direct test against LaLiga opposition in Spain.

Jablonec complete the away schedule and, on paper, represent the most manageable of Brighton’s three trips.

At home, the draw gives Albion a strong platform.

Universitatea Craiova and Kauno Žalgiris are fixtures Brighton will be expected to target for maximum points, while Monaco’s visit should provide the defining night of the league phase at the Amex.

The broader context gives the draw additional significance.

Brighton secured their place in the league phase by beating Tromsø 4-0 in the second leg of their play-off after a goalless first meeting in Norway. The result confirmed only the second European campaign in the club’s 125-year history.

That makes this season different from a simple continuation of domestic progress.

Brighton have already experienced Europa League football, but the Conference League offers a new route and a shorter six-match league phase in which dropped points carry greater weight.

The top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16, while clubs finishing between ninth and 24th must enter an additional knockout play-off.

For Brighton, the draw creates a realistic opportunity to challenge for direct qualification. The home schedule is favourable enough to build a strong points base, but trips to Athens and Madrid are likely to determine whether Albion can avoid the play-off round entirely.

The Conference League league phase begins on October 15 and concludes on December 17, with UEFA still to confirm the exact order and kick-off times of Brighton’s six fixtures.