- Juventus discovered their eight opponents for the League Phase of the 2026/27 Europa League after the draw in Monaco
- Giorgio Chiellini confirmed that Kenan Yildiz has a fractured metatarsal, will require surgery and will be out for a few months, with his absence expected to last until late November
- Juventus will host Real Sociedad, Rennes, Omonia and N.E.C., and will travel to AZ Alkmaar, Ferencváros, Celta and Hapoel Beer-Sheva.
Juventus Learn Their Europa League Opponents
Juventus’ Men’s First Team now know the eight opponents they will face in the League Phase of the 2026/27 Europa League, after the draw was held in Monaco on Friday.
Speaking after the draw, Juventus Chief Club Affairs Officer Giorgio Chiellini made clear that the club’s priority is not to overanalyse the identity of the opponents at this early stage, but to ensure that the team progress as far as possible in the competition.
“It’s difficult at this stage to say whether the draw has been favourable or not. What really matters to us is our own journey, with the aim of going as far as possible. The group stage is just one stage of a journey that will unfold over the coming months. We’ve avoided some tough away fixtures, but the aim is to earn our place in the next round.
🇪🇺 Il sorteggio di #UELdraw è completato! ✅
📝 Ecco le nostre otto avversarie nella League Phase di UEFA Europa League ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/AbHQx1sRfp
— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) August 28, 2026
“Both we and Milan have a responsibility to Italy, to help secure an extra place in the next Champions League. We’re two clubs that care deeply about this, and we’ll have to prove it. In Serie A, Inter are ahead of everyone else, we’re improving on last year, thanks to a pre-season programme that Spalletti has overseen from day one.
“The aim is to compete at the very highest level. We’ll see where the journey takes us, but once again, we’re focusing solely on ourselves. We’ve grown as a team and we want to have an excellent season. We’ve added character and solidity, which perhaps were lacking in the past, preventing us from achieving important results. At Frosinone we didn’t see the game through, we were a bit tired, which is to be expected, but there are plenty of great challenges ahead of us.”
| Juventus Europa League League Phase opponent | Venue |
|---|---|
| Real Sociedad | Home |
| AZ Alkmaar | Away |
| Rennes | Home |
| Ferencváros | Away |
| Omonia | Home |
| Celta | Away |
| N.E.C. | Home |
| Hapoel Beer-Sheva | Away |
Yildiz Facing Surgery After Metatarsal Fracture
The European draw was accompanied by a significant injury update on Kenan Yildiz. Chiellini, who is also a Juventus director and a former Bianconeri defender and captain, confirmed to Sky Sport Italia on Friday afternoon that the forward has fractured a metatarsal and will undergo surgery.
Yildiz is expected to be unavailable until late November. The setback is a major interruption for one of Juventus’ most prominent young players, particularly as he has only managed 69 minutes of competitive football this season. Those minutes came in a 1-0 Serie A victory away against Frosinone last weekend.
Asked directly about Yildiz’s condition, Chiellini said: “The situation is clear: He has a metatarsal injury, he will need to be operated on and will be out for a few months.
“It’s not an injury that will affect things in the future. Once he returns he will be at 100%. It’s an annoying hitch, but it won’t take anything away from his career or his future.”
Although Juventus will be without Yildiz for several months, Chiellini suggested that the absence can create openings for other players to make their case. Jeremie Boga and Kerim Alajbegovic were identified as possible beneficiaries while Yildiz recovers.
| Player | Injury | Treatment | Expected absence | Competitive minutes this season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenan Yildiz | Fractured metatarsal | Surgery required | Until late November | 69 minutes |
Chiellini Weighs Up Serie A Expectations
Before expanding on the Yildiz situation, Chiellini discussed Juventus’ wider outlook for the 2026-27 season. His assessment placed Inter clearly ahead of the field in Serie A, while acknowledging that Juventus are still building towards the level required to become a winning side again.
“In Italy, there is Inter, who are at an advantage compared to everyone else. Then there are the teams that are transitioning. Some things will change here in the last few days (of the transfer window), the team is working on it, the desire is to compete.
“There are still lots of steps to take from there to becoming a winning side, we know that it isn’t easy to change everything and a lot depends on the other teams. Inter are the big favourites.
“It will also depend on injuries. We’re looking at ourselves, we were a bit unlucky with Yildiz’s injury, but it means other guys will have a chance to prove themselves.”
Leadership and Mentality Remain Central Themes
Chiellini was also asked whether Juventus need to sharpen their concentration and leadership after appearing to struggle in decisive moments over the last two seasons. The former captain agreed that the issue remains important, particularly after what he described as difficult recent years.
“Definitely,” the former Bianconeri captain agreed. “It’s difficult to find security in difficult moments after a negative few years. We’ve added personality, we’ve added solidity and these are things that were missing last year and were the cause of the failure to qualify for the Champions League.”
The message from Juventus’ hierarchy is therefore twofold: the club want to make a serious Europa League run while also closing the domestic gap, but they must do so while managing the loss of Yildiz during the opening months of the campaign.
