Lyon reunion for Tottenham keeper

20Dec 2012

Europa Liga

Tottenham and Liverpool face tricky tests against Lyon and Zenit, Newcastle meet Metalist, while Chelsea oppose outsiders Sparta Prague...

Tottenham were given perhaps the most brutal Europa League double header of the four English representatives in Thursday's round-of-32 and round-of-16 draws.

First up are Ligue 1's co-leaders Lyon, meaning a hasty return to the Stade de Gerland for goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, and if they negotiate that awkward obstacle, they could face resurgent Inter, who must first overcome Champions League dropouts Cluj.

Chelsea's introduction to life in Europe's B competition is far less intimidating as they oppose Sparta Prague, who were the biggest outsiders of all 32 entrants at 240.0 even before being paired with the Champions League holders.

Should the Blues progress, they will meet final hosts Ajax or Steaua Bucharest, though even that potentially problematic assignment hasn't prevented them from being backed in from 9.8 to 7.0 to claim their second European silverware in two seasons.

However, holders and favourites Atletico Madrid have also shot inwards from 7.8 to 6.4 having been matched with first Rubin Kazan and then, if victorious, compatriots Levante or Olympiacos.

Liverpool didn't really benefit from seed status, being dealt Champions League disappointments Zenit, who have improved since a dismal start to the campaign and will also benefit from Russia's three-month winter break.

Provided they qualify, Basel or Dnipro will blockade the route to the quarter-finals. Brendan Rodgers' side have shuffled in slightly in the outright market from 16.5 to 16.0.

Newcastle will also need to become acquainted with Eastern Europe if they are to make the last eight. They have been handed a February double date with Ukrainian team Metalist which, is successful, will lead them into a collision course with Hannover or, more likely, 14.5 joint-fifth favourites Anzhi. The out-of-form Magpies are in from 38.0 to 32.0 to lift the trophy.

It was also considered a great draw for the three Italian entrants. Inter have moved from 15.0 to 12.5 despite the prospective round-of-16 clash with Tottenham or Lyon, Napoli have bolted in from 21.0 to 13.0 on account of joining a quartet of Plzen then BATE Borisov or Fenerbahce and Lazio have crawled from 27.0to 25.0 in anticipation of joy against Borussia Monchengladbach and either Stuttgart or Genk.

Round-of-32 draw:

BATE Borisov v Fenerbahce

Inter v Cluj

Levante v Olympiacos

Zenit St Petersburg v Liverpool

Dinamo Kiev v Bordeaux

Leverkusen v Benfica

Newcastle v Metalist Kharkiv

Stuttgart v Genk

Atletico Madrid v Rubin

Ajax v Steaua Bucharest

Basel v Dnipro