Favourable UEFA Cup draw for Spurs boss Ramos

TOTTENHAM manager Juande Ramos has been given a favourable draw in his quest for a third successive UEFA Cup triumph.

In the last 32 Spurs will face Slavia Prague, the Czech Republic side already thrashed 7-0 by north London rivals Arsenal in the Champions’ League group stage before finishing third to claim a UEFA Cup place.

Two British sides drew glamour ties, as Bolton were paired with a star-studded Atletico Madrid team and Aberdeen drew Bayern Munich in a rematch of their Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final of 1983 when the Dons went on to take the trophy.

Everton will be confident of defeating SK Brann of Norway while Scottish Premier League leaders Rangers face an awkward tie against Greek side Panathinaikos.

Spurs will be even more confident of making progress having also beaten Slavia 1-0 home and away in the first round of last year’s UEFA Cup

But Damien Comolli, director of football at White Hart Lane, said: “At home they are difficult to play and one should not forget they drew at home against Arsenal.”

He admitted, however, that the UEFA Cup plays a big part in the club’s plans even while the team flirt with the Barclays Premier League relegation zone.

Comolli said: “It is becoming an obsession at the club to be in Europe every year which is a very good obsession. It is a very important competition for us and we are really pleased to be in it at this stage.’’

The first legs of all games will be played on February 13 or 14, with return matches on February 21.

The draw was also made for the last 16, to be played on March 6, and March 12 or 13.

Tottenham are on course to meet PSV Eindhoven or Helsingborg in the next round; Everton would play Rosenborg or Fiorentina; Rangers could meet Werder Bremen or Braga; Bolton would play Sporting Lisbon or Basel; Aberdeen would face Anderlecht or Bordeaux.

Round of 32: Aberdeen v Bayern Munich; AEK Athens v Getafe; Bolton v Atletico Madrid; Zenit St Petersberg v Villarreal; Galatasaray v Bayer Leverkusen; Anderlecht v Bordeaux; SK Brann v Everton; FC Zurich v Hamburg; Rangers v Panathinaikos; PSV Eindhoven v Helsingborgs; Slavia Prague v Tottenham; Rosenborg v Fiorentina; Sporting v Basle; Werder Bremen v Braga; Benfica v Nurnberg; Marseille v Spartak Moscow.

Games to be played February 13, 14 and 20.

Round of 16: Anderlecht/Bordeaux v Aberdeen/Bayern Munich; Rangers/Panathinaikos v Werder Bremen/Braga; Bolton/Atletico Madrid v Sporting/Basle; Galatasaray/Bayer Leverkusen v FC Zurich/Hamburg; AEK Athens/Getafe v Benfica/Nurnberg; Rosenborg/Fiorentina v SK Brann/Everton; Slavia Prague/Tottenham v PSV Eindhoven/Helsingborgs; Marseille/Spartak Moscow v Zenit St Petersberg/Villarreal.

Games to be played March 6, 12 and 13.