On The Outside Looking In

Last updated : 04 October 2005 By Footy Mad - Editor

The Smoggies from Middlesbrough will face last season's UEFA Cup semi-finalists AZ Alkmaar in Group D of this season's competition.

The Teessiders are also up against Ukrainian side Dnipro, who thrashed Hibernian 5-1 on aggregate in the first round, Swiss outfit Grasshopper and Litex Lovech of Bulgaria.

In the group phase, each club plays two matches at home and two away on the following dates: October 20, November 3, November 24, November 30 or December 1 and December 14 or 15.

The winners, runners-up and third-placed sides from each group progress to the last 32 where they are joined by the eight third-placed teams from the Champions League group stage.

At that point the competition reverts to a two-legged knockout format up to the one-off final at the Philips Stadium in Eindhoven, Holland on May 10 next year.