Testing night for Lisbon rivals

Sporting opener
SL Benfica, the Portuguese SuperLiga leaders, visit VfB Stuttgart for a Group G fixture that the German club's coach Matthias Sammer considers "a real challenge" for his men. With Benfica out of town, neighbours Sporting Clube de Portugal welcome Greek side Panionios NFC to the Estádio José Alvalade, venue of next May's final, for their opening match in Group D.

Northeast duo in action
These are two of eight matches which uefa.com will follow with live minute-by-minute commentary. Of the other six, two will come from the northeast of England, where Middlesbrough FC and Newcastle United FC play at home tonight. Middlesbrough's Riverside stadium is sold out for the visit of S.S. Lazio while Newcastle welcome FC Dinamo Tbilisi.

Spanish assignments
Elsewhere there are away trips for Spanish sides Athletic Club Bilbao and Real Zaragoza. Bilbao visit a Besiktas JK side coached by Spaniard Vicente Del Bosque while Zaragoza hope to translate their stunning home form - they have won nine consecutive matches - into a successful visit to FK Austria Wien.

Full list
The 2002 winners Feyenoord visit Hungarian champions Ferencvárosi TC, and LOSC Lille Métropole face FC Zenit St. Petersburg in the two other matches covered live on uefa.com. For a full list of tonight's fixtures, click here.