AC Milan's hopes of winning the UEFA Cup for the first time were given a boost on Tuesday when they were handed a kind draw for the group stages of the 2008/09 competition.
The 2007 Champions League winners were selected in Group E alongside Heerenveen, Braga, Portsmouth and Wolfsburg during the draw at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon.
Under-fire Tottenham boss Juande Ramos, who guided Sevilla to UEFA Cup wins in 2006 and 2007, will hope to continue his love affair with the competition.
His struggling side were drawn in Group D along with Spartak Moscow, Udinese, Dinamo Zagreb and NEC Nijmegen.
Striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, who left Spartak for White Hart Lane in the summer transfer window, will not be able to play against his former team-mates as he is cup-tied.
Primera Liga leaders Valencia will be pleased with the draw as they were selected in Group G with Club Brugge, Rosenborg, FC Copenhagen and St Etienne.
German giants Schalke have been drawn in perhaps the toughest of the eights pools as they come up against Paris St Germain, Manchester City, Racing Santander and FC Twente in Group A.
The clash with Twente will mean a reunion for Schalke coach Fred Rutten with the side he guided to European qualification last season.
Sevilla are pitted against Stuttgart, Sampdoria, Partizan Belgrade and Standard Liege in Group C, while Group B sees Benfica, Olympiacos, Galatasaray, Hertha Berlin and Metalist Kharkiv go up against each other.
Martin Jol's Bundesliga leaders Hamburg have been paired in Group F with Ajax, Slavia Prague, Aston Villa and MSK Zilina.
Group H comprises CSKA Moscow, winners of the competition in 2005, Deportivo La Coruna, Feyenoord, Nancy and Lech Poznan.
UEFA Cup Draw: 2008-09
Group A:
• Schalke
• Paris St Germain
• Manchester City
• Racing Santander
• FC Twente
Group B:
• Benfica
• Olympiacos
• Galatasaray
• Hertha Berlin
• Metalist Kharkiv
Group C:
• Sevilla
• Stuttgart
• Sampdoria
• Partizan Belgrade
• Standard Liege
Group D:
• Tottenham
• Spartak Moscow
• Udinese
• Dinamo Zagreb
• NEC Nijmegen
Group E:
• AC Milan
• Heerenveen
• Braga
• Portsmouth
• Wolfsburg
Group F:
• Hamburg
• Ajax
• Slavia Prague
• Aston Villa
• MSK Zilina
Group G:
• Valencia
• Club Brugge
• Rosenborg
• FC Copenhagen
• St Etienne
Group H:
• CSKA Moscow
• Deportivo La Coruna
• Feyenoord
• Nancy
• Lech Poznan
