Cyprus’ sole representatives in Europe AEL were given a tough draw on Friday after being pitted in Group C alongside French side Marseille, Fenerbahce of Turkey and Germany’s Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Europa League.
Pambos Christodoulou’s side had gone into the competition after suffering elimination in the Champions League playoffs at the hands of Anderlecht.
They now will be called upon to overcome huge odds against their group rivals who all have strong traditions in European football.
Speaking to UEFA.com after the draw, AEL keeper Matias Degra said, “Our whole campaign in the UEFA Champions League qualifying was an experience and we are now looking to the experience in the UEFA Europa League.
“Football games are won on the pitch and not through club names and so we will be giving our all when we play them. This competition is new to us so we are all really excited about the prospect of playing teams from France, Turkey and Germany. There were some other groups out there that would have been better for us to be drawn into but we have no complaints. That’s football.”
Elsewhere, Liverpool were handed a tough Europa League draw as they face big-spending Russians Anzhi Makhachkala plus Udinese and Young Boys.
Brendan Rogers’ side face the club managed by Guus Hiddink and captained by Samuel Eto’o in Group A. Udinese, third in Serie A last season, and the Swiss club complete the group.
Tottenham, like Liverpool, were amongst the top seeds and Andre Villas Boas’ outfit will face another Italian team in Lazio in Group J. Greeks Panathinaikos and Maribor of Slovenia are also in their pool.
And Newcastle United face Bordeaux, Club Brugge and Maritimo in Group D.
The top two in each of the 12 groups will join the eight third-placed teams from the Champions League groups in the last 32 of the competition which concludes in Amsterdam on May 15.

FULL DRAW:

Group A: Liverpool (ENG), Udinese (ITA), Young Boys (SUI), Anzhi (RUS)
Group B: Atletico Madrid (SPN), Hapoel Tel-Aviv (ISR), Plzen (CZE), Academica (POR)
Group C: Marseille (FRA), Fenerbahce (TUR), B. Monchengladbach (GER), AEL
Group D: Bordeaux (FRA), Club Brugge (BEL), Newcastle Utd (ENG), Maritimo (POR)
Group E: Stuttgart (GER), Copenhagen (DEN), Steaua (ROU), Molde (NOR)
Group F: PSV Eindhoven (NED), Napoli (ITA), Dnipro (UKR), AIK (SWE)
Group G: Sporting (POR), FC Basel (SUI), Genk (BEL), Videoton (HUN)
Group H: Inter (ITA), Rubin Kazan (RUS), Partizan (SRB), Neftci (AZE)
Group I: Lyon (FRA), Bilbao (SPN), Sparta Prague (CZE), Kiryat Shmona (ISR)
Group J: Tottenham (ENG), Panathinaikos (GRE), Lazio (ITA), Maribor (SVN)
Group K: Leverkusen (GER), Metalist Kharkiv (UKR), Rosenborg (NOR), Rapid Vienna (AUT)
Group L: Twente (NED), Hannover (GER), Levante (SPN), Helsingborg (SWE)

Cyprus Weekly