Boro to face Lazio

Middlesbrough will face Italian side Lazio later this month in the inaugural group stage of the UEFA Cup.

The Rome club finished sixth in Serie A last season and have signed former West Ham favourite Paolo di Canio before the start of the current campaign.

Also in with Boro are Villarreal from Spain, who knocked out Celtic in the quarter-final stage of the competition last season.

The La Liga side recently signed Diego Forlan, who was a target for Boro before joining Manchester United.

Partizan Belgrade were the next team drawn in Group E – the Serbia & Montenegro side denied Newcastle a place in the group stages of the Champions League last season when they won on penalties at St James’ Park.

The final team Boro face are Greek minnows Egaleo.

Steve McClaren’s side booked their place by beating Czech champions Banik Ostrava 4-1 on aggregate.

Boro are playing in Europe for the first time after winning their first-ever major trophy – the Carling Cup – last season.