Juventus draw Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo in Europa League league phase

Juventus have been handed a Europa League league-phase draw that offers a credible route towards the top eight, with Real Sociedad and Rennes heading to Turin and potentially difficult trips to AZ Alkmaar and Celta Vigo among their eight fixtures.

The Bianconeri entered Friday’s draw in Pot 1 and will play four matches at home and four away as they return to the Europa League with expectations extending well beyond simply reaching the knockout rounds.

Juventus will host Real Sociedad, Rennes, Omonia and NEC Nijmegen. Their away schedule takes them to AZ Alkmaar, Ferencváros, Celta Vigo and Hapoel Be’er Sheva.

Real Sociedad provide the standout fixture in Turin. The Spanish side represent one of the stronger opponents available from the top pot, but playing that game at home gives Juventus an important advantage in what should be one of the defining nights of their league phase.

The trip to AZ could prove more complicated. Dutch sides have regularly made home European fixtures uncomfortable for higher-profile opposition, while Juventus will also have to negotiate a visit to Celta in another of the more technically demanding assignments on their schedule.

Rennes add further quality to the home programme, but beyond those matches the draw gives Luciano Spalletti’s side several opportunities to build the points total required for direct passage to the round of 16.

Games against Omonia and NEC in Turin will place Juventus in the position of clear favourites, while Ferencváros and Hapoel Be’er Sheva complete an away schedule that could have been considerably harsher given the range of possible opponents.

Juventus Chief Club Affairs Officer Giorgio Chiellini nevertheless resisted describing the draw as favourable immediately after it was made.

“We’ve avoided some tough away fixtures,” Chiellini said, while stressing that Juventus’ priority is to concentrate on their own path and go as far as possible in the competition.

That distinction matters under the 36-team league format. Finishing inside the top eight sends a club directly into the round of 16, while teams placed ninth to 24th must negotiate an additional two-legged knockout play-off in February.

For Juventus, therefore, this is a draw that should invite ambition rather than relief. There are enough demanding fixtures to punish dropped points, particularly in Alkmaar and Vigo, but the overall schedule gives Spalletti’s side a realistic opportunity to avoid the play-off round if they establish control of the campaign early.

The Europa League league phase begins on September 16 and 17 and concludes on January 28, with the exact order and kick-off times of Juventus’ eight fixtures still to be confirmed.