Five-time European champions Liverpool face a stern test of their continental experience after drawing former French champions Bordeaux and Russia's Rubin Kazan in the Europa League group stages on Friday. Brendan Rodgers' Premier League giants will also take on Sion of Switzerland after 12 groups of four teams were pulled out of the hat at the draw in Monaco.
Liverpool, who won the UEFA Cup, the former version of the Europa League, three times in 1973, 1976 and 2001 will face Bordeaux for only the second time after defeating the Ligue 1 side home and away in the 2006-07 Champions League group stages. Bordeaux came closest to European glory in 1996 when they lost the UEFA Cup final 5-1 on aggregate against a star-studded Bayern Munich side coached by Franz Beckenbauer, while Rubin Kazan reached the Europa League quarter-finals in 2013 when they were beaten by eventual winners Chelsea.
In the other groups, north Londoners Tottenham, who lifted the trophy in 1984, were drawn with last season's Champions League quarter-finalists Monaco, experienced Belgian side Anderlecht and Qarabag of Azerbaijan. "Tottenham and Anderlecht are top teams and then we will also discover Qarabag," said Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev.
Holders Sevilla qualified for the Champions League after lifting the trophy for a record fourth time last season and were absent from the draw. Scotland's Celtic, who fell at the final Champions League qualifying hurdle, find themselves in a tough Group A that includes Dutch giants Ajax, Turkey's big-spending Fenerbahce and Norwegian champions Molde.
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