Zenga unfazed by mentor meeting

Valencia CF v FC Steaua Bucuresti
Any European tie has its difficulties and this is a perfect example. Steaua are vastly experienced in continental competition and are under the guidance of Walter Zenga, whom I know very well and who is a good coach. But we are the holders and all of us are keen to retain the title. For that to happen, we must ensure we are in good shape to meet the challenges ahead. Valencia coach Claudio Ranieri

Ranieri came to give a lesson at Coverciano when I was doing my coaching certificates and I was really impressed with what he had to say. I asked for his mobile number and we stayed in touch. Sometimes I call him for advice. It is wonderful for us to play against a big team like Valencia. Steaua coach Walter Zenga

Grazer AK v Middlesbrough FC
Middlesbrough is a very interesting draw for us, both from a sporting and a financial viewpoint. They are fifth in the Premiership but I am very satisfied. GAK sports director Hannes Weninger

They're the Austrian champions and won 1-0 at Anfield so they're no mugs. It's not going to be easy but with the away leg being first, we'll come back to the Riverside, hopefully with a full house. Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren

SC Heerenveen v Newcastle United FC
They are a beautiful opponent who have quality in abundance. It will be hard for us to qualify against such a team, but we have a chance. Beside that, it will be a great experience for the club and our fans - and an enormous challenge for us. Heerenveen coach Gertjan Verbeek

FC Basel 1893 v LOSC Lille Métropole
It could have been worse for us because of logistical reasons. It will be an interesting encounter between two neighbouring countries. We will scout Lille soon but I already know that they are a technically strong team. However, they lost in Aachen and that is one of the reasons to feel optimistic. Basel coach Christian Gross

Parma FC v VfB Stuttgart
Stuttgart are a prestigious club with a great tradition and they're also having a great season, fighting to win the Bundesliga. Kevin Kuranyi is their most famous player, he scores the goals, but they're strong as a unit with a number of good young players. Parma technical director Lorenzo Minotti

Matches against Italian teams are always interesting. Parma had a few problems last year, but they still have some outstanding players like Alberto Gilardino. I am really looking forward to the match. We want to beat Parma and book our place in the last 16. Stuttgart coach Matthias Sammer

Sporting Clube de Portugal v Feyenoord
We have a very tough opponent, but we will do everything to keep going, as the UEFA Cup is a competition we are negotiating very carefully. The final will be played in our stadium and that is one of our objectives. We know the road is long, but we want to make it all the way. Sporting director Eurico Gomes

TSV Alemannia Aachen v AZ Alkmaar
We went into the competition as David and we are still David. We've managed to throw a couple of stones at Goliath and want to continue doing so. To be honest, we didn't care who we would play, but now we have an interesting tie in prospect. We're the outsiders but we still want to win through. Aachen vice-chairman Wolfgang Hammer

In theory, we should win this one. We play away first, although I don't know yet if that is in our favour. But we will just play our own game - at home and abroad. Alkmaar coach Co Adriaanse

FK Austria Wien v Athletic Club Bilbao
It is a very attractive draw and we have a chance. We beat Zaragoza, but you need luck against such strong opponents. Our confidence is high, though, after getting through the group stage. Austria sports director Günter Kronsteiner

We were keen to avoid Sporting Lisbon so we can feel happy. But FK Austria are a top Austrian side who are second in their domestic league and have held their own so far in European competition. Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde

FK Partizan v FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
Dnipro are a strong team, although it's good that we are not playing against a club from Germany or the Netherlands. We have enough time to get our tactics right and create a good atmosphere for the matches. I'm an optimist and believe we will qualify. Partizan director Nenad Bjekovic

Parma [FC] or Sporting [Clube de Portugal] would have been much worse. This is why we think we have a very good chance to get though to the next round, where we can potentially meet a very difficult opponent - CSKA or Benfica. If we are to play CSKA, we know there will be a bit of political rivalry. Dnipro general manager Andriy Stetsenko

AFC Ajax v AJ Auxerre
I am glad we will not play a Spanish opponent in the next round and I see a chance for us to progress. On the other hand, Auxerre managed to win 2-0 in Glasgow against Rangers [FC] so I cannot predict who will be favourites. Ajax coach Ronald Koeman

PFC CSKA Moskva v SL Benfica
We've got a very famous opponent, with plenty of European experience and a big past. We knew there were no easy opponents at this stage but we're also a very good team and we have proved this against the likes of Chelsea [FC] and [FC] Porto. This is why we will be looking to advance. CSKA team director Aleksandr Stelmakh

We saw CSKA play in the [UEFA] Champions League and they're a strong team – it will be a tight tie. I don't know if we'll be able to play them in Moscow in February. If we have to, it will certainly be harder. Benfica coach Giovanni Trapattoni

Fenerbahçe SK v Real Zaragoza
We have a Spanish side and Spain's standing in football is obvious. The first game, which will be played in front of our home crowd, is very important. If we want to go through, we have to play well in the first leg. Fenerbahçe vice-president Nihat Özdemir

Panathinaikos FC v Sevilla FC
Panathinaikos is a dream draw, we will be facing one of European football's classic clubs. If you want to make your mark in European football then you must eliminate teams with a lot of history. We are a club that wants to recover our prestige in Europe and this draw is great news for everyone. Sevilla coach Joaquín Caparrós

FC Shakhtar Donetsk v FC Schalke 04
We are getting used to travelling to eastern Europe. It is nothing new any more, and playing in Ukraine in February means it will be very cold with the pitch probably frozen. Shakhtar are an excellent club as they proved in the Champions League. Schalke vice-president Joseph Schunsenberg

Olympiacos CFP v FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
There are no easy opponents at this stage and we must not underestimate Sochaux. They are a good side, as we saw in their match against Panionios [NFC]. Nevertheless, it's a good draw since we avoided more difficult teams. It's up to us now. Olympiacos coach Dusan Bajevic

FC Dynamo Kyiv v Villarreal CF
It is a tough game and if we get through, then we will have another difficult game. We met Valencia in the semi-finals last year and they are our local rivals. It's going to be very difficult. Villarreal director Fernando Roig