The draw for Europe’s second-tier football competition was held in Monaco on Friday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The Polish champions will face Portuguese heavyweights Sporting, Italy's Atalanta and Austria’s Sturm Graz in Group D, with matches to be played between September 21 and December 14, Europe’s football governing body UEFA announced.
Raków, who in May won the Polish premier league championship for the first time, will play their home games in the southern city of Sosnowiec, the PAP news agency reported.
The 2023 Polish champions are set to appear in the group stage of a European competition for the first time in the club's history, officials said.
Raków entered the Europa League after going out of the Champions League in the final qualifying round, 1-2 on aggregate to Denmark’s FC Copenhagen on Wednesday night.
The top three teams from each Europa League group will continue their European campaigns in the new year, according to officials.
Group winners will advance to Europa League round of 16; group runners-up will play third-placed Champions League teams for a place in Europa League round of 16; and third–placed teams will transfer to the knockout-round play-offs in the third-tier competition, the Conference League, UEFA said.
The final of the 2023/24 Europa League will take place on May 22, 2024 in Dublin, Ireland.
Legia Warsaw to play Aston Villa in Conference League
Meanwhile, the 2023 Polish Cup winners Legia Warsaw have been drawn against England’s Aston Villa, Dutch side Alkmaar and Zrinjski Mostar of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Group E of the 2023/2024 Europa Conference League, the PAP news agency reported.
Legia made the group stage after beating Midtjylland of Denmark 6-5 on penalties on Thursday night, after the two teams finished tied at 4-4 on aggregate over two legs, news outlets reported.
The 2023/2024 Conference League group stage matches will also be played between September 21 and December 14. Group winners will progress to the round of 16, while group runners-up will face third-placed Europa League teams for spots in the round of 16, UEFA said.
The final of the 2023/2024 Conference League will be held on May 29, 2024 in Athens, Greece, the PAP news agency reported.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, UEFA