Former champions Atletico drawn Udinese

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Former champions Atletico drawn Udinese

The former UEFA Cup and Super Cup champions Atletico Madrid have been drawn Udinese in the group I of the upcoming Europa League season. Tottenham, who played their first UCL quarter finals last year, will meet Rubin Kazan, but also revelation Shamrock Rovers of Ireland in the first group.

Atletico Madrid, who strengthened their side with the current European champion Falcao, will start the next group stage as main favorites, while Udinese, who impressed during the last term in Serie A, are rated as second candidates for the first place in the group. PAOK are also part of the group A, who have qualified for the stage thanks to a 3-1 aggregate against Karpaty.

Shamrock Rovers, who ousted Partizan Belgrade in extra time last night, are the fourth favorites for the superior phases. Group B is led by FC Copenhagen, who failed to make the Champions League groups and who will fight Standard Leige, FC Sevilla’s nightmare Hannover and Vorskla. The Germans have grabbed a group stage spot after a 3-2 aggregate against the former European champions whom they drew last night in Spain.

Vorskla ousted Dinamo Bucharest after a 3-2 win in Romania and a 5-3 aggregate result, while the Belgians from Standard ousted Helsingborg 4-1 on aggregate, thanks to a 3-1 last night win at the Olympia stadium.

PSV are the main favorites in group C and will fight Hapoel Tel Aviv, Rapid Bucharest and Legia for a spot into the superior phases. The Dutch eased past Ried 5-0 on aggregate to chase their first second European trophy in history after the 1978 success.

The Israeli from Hapoel eliminated Ekranas thanks to a 4-0 win grabbed last night at home. They had been defeated 0-1 in the first leg, but managed to secure the spot with a comprehensive victory. Rapid Bucharest eliminated Slask after drawing them 1-1 in last night’s second term. The Romanians have made the progress thanks to a 4-2 aggregate and thus a 3-2 first term win on the road.

Finally, Legia, who will start the group as fourth favorite, stunned former Russian champions Spartak Moscow with a 5-4 overall result. They defeated Moscow 3-2 last night in Russian to become one of the biggest surprises in the next term.

Sporting have been drawn top of the group D and the Portuguese will fight hard against Lazio, FC Zurich and Romanians FC Vaslui. Sporting edged Nordsjaelland 2-1 last night, to make the progress with the same aggregate. Lazio, who thwarted Rabotnicki 6-0 in the first leg, have made the progress thanks to a 9-1 aggregate, but will start the group stage as second favorites, while FC Vaslui have booked a groups stage spot thanks to a 2-1 aggregate over Sparta Praha.

Group E is led by Dynamo Kyiv, who will meet Turkish side Besiktas, Stoke City and Maccabi Tel Aviv. The Ukrainians have secured a group stage spot after defeating Litex 1-0 last night for a 3-1 aggregate. Besiktas managed to overturn a 0-2 deficit set in the first leg against Alania, to pick a 3-0 win last night on the road.

Stoke City eased past Thun 4-1 last night in England to make a 5-1 aggregate progress, while Maccabi crashed Panathinaikos thanks to a 3-0 first leg win. The Israeli have made the progress thanks to a 4-2 aggregate.

Group F contains PSG, Athletic Bilbao, Salzburg and Slovana Bratislava. The French side, which tends to become a top side after a long term drought, kept the sheet clean against Differdange in both the first and second legs, having secured the group stage spot with a 6-0 aggregate. Athletic have made a free progress after their opponents Trabzonspor were rejected the presence due to match fixing scandals.

“Unfortunately, we have witnessed all too clearly the destructive effect that corruption can have on our sport and recent events have shown that it can reach all levels. That is why in order to protect our newest club competition, the UEFA Europa League, we will continue with our zero-tolerance policy approach to any forms of corruption,” said UEFA general secretary Giannin Infantino earlier this week.

Salzburg beat Omonia 1-0 last night to advance through on away goals, finishing the double 2-2 on aggregate. Bratislava were one of the main revelations last night as the Slovaks stunned AS Roma in Luis Enrique’s debut at the Italian side. Slovan beat the Italians 1-0 in the first leg and drew them 1-1 at the Olimpico.

AZ Alkmaar are top of the group G, being expected to meet Metalist, Austria Wien and Malmo in the first stage. The Dutch crashed Aalesund 6-0 last night, victory which was added to a 1-2 defeat in the first leg. Metalist guaranteed the groups stage spot thanks to a 4-0 second term win and a similar aggregate against French side Sochaux, while Austria Wien ousted Romanians Gaz Metan Medias.

Medias won the second leg 1-0, but that was not sufficient for a progress, as well. Austria eliminated them thanks to a 3-1 first leg win and a 3-2 overall result.

Group H has Sporting Braga as main favorite for the superior phases. Braga, finalist in last term’s Europa League edition, have been drawn Club Brugge, Birmingham and Maribor. The Portuguese side have secured the group stage spot on away goals, after drawing Young Boys 2-2 away in the second leg.

Brugge made it clear against Zestafoni, beating them 2-0 in the second leg to make it 5-3 in aggregate, while Birmingham ousted Nacional thanks to a 3-0 win and a similar aggregate. Finally, Maribor stunned Glasgow Rangers with a 1-1 draw grabbed in the second term to make it 3-2 overall.

Former champions Altetico Madrid will fight Udinese, Rennes and Sion for a superior phase. The Spaniards kept the sheet clean in both legs against Vitoria SC whom they ousted 6-0, with a 4-0 win grabbed this week on the road. Rennes eased past Crvena Zvezda 4-0 in the second leg and 2-1 in the first one. Sion is another surprise in the group stage as the Swiss eliminated Celtic Glasgow after a 3-1victory picked this week at home

Last term’s UEFA Champions League semi finalist FC Schalke 04 have been drawn former champions Steaua Bucharest, Haifa and AEK Larnaca in the group J. The Germans had been defeated 2-0 in the first leg with HJK, but destroyed them 6-1 in the second leg this week.

Steaua have booked a group stage spot after ousting CSKA Sofia thanks to a 3-1 aggregate and a 2-0 first leg home him, while Larnaca edged Rosenborg 2-1 this week to make the progress with a similar aggregate.

Group K is led by FC Twente who will face former finalists Fulham, Odense and Wislaw Krakovia. Fulham lost 0-1 to Dnipro this week, but have secured the berth thanks to a 2-0 first leg win. Odense will start as third favorite, while Krakovia as fourth.

Finally, group L contains Anderlecht, AEK Athens, Lokomotiv Moscow and Sturm Graz. The Belgians had a hard life against Bursaspor whom they drew 2-2 in the second term to make the progress after a 4-3 aggregate. Moscow are also following a second leg 1-1 draw to Spartak Trnava, but the Russians have rallied through the groups stage thanks to a 2-0 home win.

Group A: Tottenham Hotspur, Rubin Kazan, PAOK Salonika, Shamrock Rovers

Group B: FC Copenhagen, Standard Liege, Hannover, Vorskla Poltava

Group C: PSV Eindhoven, Hapoel Tel-Aviv, Rapid Bucharest, Legia Warsaw

Group D: Sporting Lisbon, Lazio, FC Zurich, FC Vaslui

Group E: Dynamo Kiev, Besiktas, Stoke City, Maccabi Tel-Aviv

Group F: Paris St Germain, Athletic Bilbao, Salzburg, Slovan Bratislava

Group G: AZ Alkmaar, Metalist Kharkiv, Austria Vienna, Malmo

Group H: Braga, Club Brugge, Birmingham, Maribor

Group I: Atletico Madrid, Udinese, Rennes, Sion

Group J: Schalke, Steaua Bucharest, Maccabi Haifa, AEK Larnaca

Group K: FC Twente, Fulham, Odense, Wisla Krakow

Group L: Anderlecht, AEK Athens, Lokomotiv Moscow, Sturm Graz

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