Holders face tough UEFA Cup test

UEFA Cup holders Sevilla have been handed a tricky draw in the group stage of the competition.

The Spanish club, who beat Middlesbrough 4-0 in this year’s final, are paired in Group C with AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands – semi-finalists last year -- the respective Czech and Swiss league leaders, Slovan Liberec and Grasshoppers, and Portugal's Braga.

Two former winners, Bayer Leverkusen and Tottenham Hotspur, clash in Group B along with Bruges, Besiktas and Dinamo Bucharest. And former European champions Ajax Amsterdam are in Group F along with Sparta Prague, Espanyol, Austria Vienna and Zulte Waregem.

Parma -- the 1995 and 1999 winners -- are in Group D with Lens, Heerenveen, Osasuna and OB Odense, while 2002 champions Feyenoord join FC Basel, Wisla Krakow, Blackburn and Nancy in Group E.