High hopes for British clubs in Europe

Newcastle and Rangers should have high hopes of progressing through the first-ever group stage of the UEFA Cup following today’s draw but Middlesbrough and Hearts face stiffer tests.

With three sides to qualify from each group of five – each clubs plays two home matches and two away – there should be little to fear for Graeme Souness’ Magpies in Group D with home matches against Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon and Dinamo Tbilisi from Georgia and trips to French club Sochaux and Panionios in Greece.

Rangers, who like Newcastle were top seeds in the draw in Nyon, Switzerland, will also be confident of going through from Group F.

Their two toughest opponents, Auxerre of France and Austrian side AK Graz, will both travel to Ibrox while the away games are against Amica Wronki of Poland and AZ Alkmaar in Holland.

Middlesbrough’s task is altogether tougher with opposition in Group E from Italian side Lazio, last season’s beaten semi-finalists Villarreal of Spain and Serbian league leaders Partizan Belgrade.

Only Greek minnows Egaleo should provide little threat, and manager Steve McClaren at least has the advantage of Lazio and Partizan coming to the Riverside.

Hearts will up against it in Group A with difficult trips to play Ruud Gullit’s Feyenoord side, and then Swiss side Basle, who have performed well against British sides in recent years. Their opponents at home will be Ferencvaros, Millwall’s Hungarian conquerors in the last round, and Schalke, perennial strong performers in Europe.

The winners, runners-up and third-placed clubs from each group advance to the last 32 where they are joined by the eight third-placed clubs from the Champions League group stage into a series of two-legged knock-outs until in the final at the José Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon on May 18.