The joyous scenes which blanketed Sunderland’s Stadium of Light in late May when European qualification was secured for only the second time in club history, were mirrored in workplaces across the north east on Friday lunchtime, with the news that Regis Le Bris’ side will face AC Milan at the San Siro in the Europa League this season.It is a dream draw for Sunderland fans, a trip to a bona fide European heavyweight and, what’s more, the home fixtures look tasty too. AZ Alkmaar, Dinamo Zagreb, Jagiellonia and Levski Sofia will all visit the Stadium of Light in an eminently winnable set of fixtures.Sunderland’s only previous dalliance with Europe came over 50 years ago, after their famous 1973 FA Cup victory. That qualified them for the now-defunct European Cup Winners’ Cup, though they didn’t go especially far. Hungarian side Vasas were despatched in the opening round before Sporting Lisbon, eventual semi-finalists that year, beat Sunderland 3-2 on aggregate.A four-game history in Europe will thus be tripled inside the next five months, and at least three new countries added to the Futbology match lists of diehards.The Athletic’s Chris Weatherspoon analyses their draw below.Fixtures, times and datesSunderland vs AZ AlkmaarAC Milan vs SunderlandSunderland vs Dinamo ZagrebAnderlecht vs SunderlandSunderland vs JagielloniaLech Poznan vs SunderlandSunderland vs Levski SofiaTorreense vs SunderlandThe dates of matches are expected to be announced on Saturday 29 August, and no later than the day following.Which game most excites you?Milan. San Siro. It was written.There’s a strange juxtaposition that weighs on fans of a club which does not often, or ever, get into European competition: they want to play the best teams in the hardest games. Sunderland will travel to Italy as underdogs yet joyous regardless and accompanied by a great roaring mass of support.For many a year, Mackems, as Sunderland fans are known, have been the subject of local taunts from Newcastle United fans about the vast gulf in continental experience between the two rivals. Newcastle have ventured abroad in UEFA competition many a time, but the venue they adorned their ditty of mockery feels oh-so-sweet to Sunderland supporters now: “Have you ever seen a Mackem in Milan?”Come the end of this league phase in January, there’ll have been plenty of sightings. All summer, Wearside has been abuzz with chatter of the trips to come, the arrangements to make, the fun to be had. Milan, with its possibility for hilarity, topped the list.And today? Christmas in August.A trip to the San Siro stands out (Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)Which game worries you?In truth, none of them. That’s not arrogance; this is eye-widening new territory for Sunderland fans, and they’ll be savouring every moment.