Intertoto Cup Blow

Newcastle's hopes of playing in the UEFA Cup next season were dealt a major blow when Deportivo la Coruna, Lazio and Marseille stepped into their path.

Graeme Souness' side will launch their campaign in the third round in Slovakia on Sunday when they take on ZTS Dubnica, who will visit St James' Park the following Saturday.

If the Toon army overcome the Slovakian minnows, they will then face the side which comes out on top in the clash between Spanish giants Deportivo and Croatian side NK Slaven Koprivnica . The Finals (of which there are three) could see Newcastle face Marseille, who play Swiss side Young Boys in the third round, or Italian outfit Lazio who meet Tampere United of Finland.

Deportivo finished ninth in La Liga last season, 33 points adrift of champions Barcelona, and earned their place in the third round with a 4-1 aggregate victory over Buducnost despite losing the second leg 2-1 at the weekend.

Lazio ended the Serie A season in 10th place, 42 points behind champions Juventus, while Marseille, the side which knocked the Magpies out of the UEFA Cup at the semi-final stage two seasons ago finished a disappointing 7^th in Ligue 1 last year.

The Third Round draw in full is as follows:

Lazio (Italy) v Tampere United (Finland)
Young Boys (Switz) v Marseille (France)
Dubnica (Slovakia) v Newcastle
Leiria (Portugal) v Hamburg (Germany)
Gent (Belgium) v Valencia (Spain)
Egaleo (Greece) v Zalgiris Vilnius (Lithuania)
Dortmund (Germany) v Sigma (Czech R)
Roda (Netherlands) v Liberec (Czech R)
Cluj (Romania) v St-Etienne (France)
Deportivo (Spain) v Koprivnica (Croatia)
Gothenburg (Swed) v Wolfsburg (Germany)
Varteks (Croatia) v Lens (France)