Stuttgart set for Benfica battle

Middlesbrough FC midfield player Gaizka Mendieta will meet old friends after the UEFA Cup draw paired his English club with S.S. Lazio in Group E, one of the toughest sections. Meanwhile, two of Europe's form sides - SL Benfica and VfB Stuttgart - will meet in Group G. uefa.com rounds up the post-draw reaction from Groups E-H

Group E

Undoubtedly it's a very tough group, I think it's the group of death. However, I'm sure my players can face each team with no fear. There are important teams like Villarreal and Middlesbrough in our group. Each side has the chance to progress, that's why it's so difficult. (Domenico Caso, S.S. Lazio coach)

It's important that we make the most of our home ties - it's going to be tough but that's not to discount our chances and we must approach these matches with confidence. (Quique Álvarez, captain, Villarreal CF)

It is a fairly tough group but the game against Baník Ostrava in qualifying was difficult as well. We are looking forward to it. They will be difficult games but we are strong enough to look favourably on the draw. We signed Gaizka Mendieta from Lazio so he will be looking forward to meeting them. (Keith Lamb, Middlesbrough FC chief executive)

It is a very difficult group especially with Lazio and Villarreal but we are in good form and I think we can at least finish third in the group. Every match will be important. The new system is very interesting and it is a great improvement in comparison to the previous UEFA Cup. (Ivan Curkovic, FK Partizan president)

We knew that we would come up against some very good teams, but we appear to have been drawn against the best. All the matches will be very tough. It will be difficult for us to qualify to the next stage, but our hopes remain intact. (Georgios Barkoglou, Egaleo FC striker)

Group F

It's an interesting draw. A couple of our players have got a bit of history with clubs in our group, Jean-Alain Boumsong with Auxerre and Fernando Ricksen with Alkmaar in Holland so it will be interesting for them going back to their former clubs. We've played Auxerre before in the Champions League, while Graz are a good team who did well at Anfield against Liverpool in Champions League qualifying. (Stuart Thompson, Rangers FC spokesman)

We're in a group with some attractive teams, and a real highlight will be the match against Rangers. The most difficult will be in Auxerre. (Toni Ehmann, Grazer AK captain)

Theoretically, Rangers and Auxerre are much stronger, but everything is possible in football. The way it looks, we should be fighting for third place with Alkmaar and Grazer AK. (Piotr Dziewicki, KS Amica Wronki defender)

I think it has been a good draw for us, with a fair chances to end in the first three and qualify for the next round. In theory Rangers and Auxerre are stronger then AZ. Grazer AK I think are our equals, while Amica are unknown. (Co Adriaanse, AZ Alkmaar coach)

Group G

This is a good group. Benfica under coach Giovanni Trapattoni will mean a challenging home match. Our aim is, of course, to reach the knockout stage, even though our group is no easy task. (Matthias Sammer, VfB Stuttgart coach)

It's a group that we can negotiate but we have to be humble, not be complacent by thinking that it will be easy. However, we have to reach the knockout stages. (Álvaro Magalhães, SL Benfica assistant coach)

I see opportunities for us to get through the group stage successfully. Benfica and Stuttgart are the top clubs, but I think Dinamo Zagreb and Beveren are on the same level as we are. (Riemer van der Velde, SC Heerenveen chairman)

Our chances of qualification are rather small but for the fans and the club this draw is ideal. Stuttgart are the favourites, they are second in the Bundesliga. So all in all, it isn't going to be easy, but on the other hand we have got nothing to lose. (Herman Helleputte, KSK Beveren coach)

We will play four attractive games so I should be satisfied, just like our fans who are going to see some interesting matches. (Niko Kranjcar, NK Dinamo Zagreb captain)

Group H

It's a pleasing draw for us, when you consider the rivals the other Spanish clubs have picked then we can count ourselves lucky. I think we are in quite an evenly balanced group, We have to play and give our best. I think this is a very attractive group for our fans. (Joaquín Caparrós, Sevilla FC coach)

We have a very good chance of qualifying from a group like this. I think Sevilla, Lille and ourselves are favourites to go through. (Aleksandr Kerzhakov, FC Zenit St. Peterburg striker)

Maybe Zenit and Lille are not considered among Europe's powerhouses, but they are leaders in their respective leagues and this speaks volumes about their potential. Our first match against Zenit in Russia will be decisive and equally difficult is the trip to Sevilla. (Fernando Santos, AEK Athens FC coach)

We will try to finish in at least third place in the group. That would be fantastic. (Horst Heinrichs, TSV Alemannia Aachen president)