Both Bulgarian representatives in Uefa's Europa League tournament will play against Italian opponents in the group stage of the tournament.

The draw, which took place in Monaco on August 28 2009, placed Bulgarian champions Levski in group G together with Lazio, Villarreal and Red Bull Salzburg. Last-year's runners-up in Bulgarian championship, CSKA Sofia, will play in group E with Roma, Basel, and Fulham.

"It is a tough draw," said Konstantin Badjekov, Levski's executive director, who was present at the draw, quoted on the club website. "Previously, when we had luck in the draw we weren't lucky during the games so I hope that this time around this will change," he said. "These matches will show us where we stand in European football", he said.

"We had no illusions that it will be easy playing in the group stage," Levski's sports director and club legend Georgi Ivanov said. "We will play to win and we will try to show a good level of football," he said.

"It is a good group," CSKA's head coach Luyboslav Penev was quoted on the club website after the draw. "If we don't have injured players and the boys are serious in their work we will have results," he said.

"Roma is the clear favourite and Basel is not a weak team either. It is good for all of us that we are at the tournament stage. So far we are looking at the cup from a distance. Let's hope that after the six games we will be closer," he said.

CSKA won its place in the group stage with a stunning 2:1 away win (the first match in Sofia ended 0:0) against Dynamo Moscow on August 27 2009.

Levski reached the group stage of the tournament after failing to progress in the Uefa Champions League tournament.

The third Bulgarian team who had good chances of entering the group stages, Litex Lovech, was knocked out by BATE Borisov on August 27 2009 after a 0:4 loss.

Four minutes before the end of the game, Litex managed to hold the 0:0 score which gave the Bulgarians the advantage but in the closing moments of the game conceded a goal that became four in extra time.

The defeat led to the resignation of manager Stanimir Stoilov who is also coach of the Bulgarian national team.

Overall, the draw has produced a number of fascinating ties. One of the most interesting is that of group F where Greek Panathinaikos FC will clash with Turkey's Galatasaray SK.

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The groups

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Group A
AFC Ajax, RSC Anderlecht, NK Dinamo Zagreb,FC Timişoara

Group B
Valencia CF, LOSC Lille Métropole, SK Slavia Praha, Genoa CFC

Group C
Hamburger SV, Celtic FC, Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC, SK Rapid Wie

Group D
Sporting Clube de Portugal, SC Heerenveen, Hertha BSC Berlin, FK Ventspils

Group E
AS Roma, FC Basel 1893, Fulham FC, PFC CSKA Sofia

Group F
Panathinaikos FC, Galatasaray SK, FC Dinamo 1948 Bucureşti, SK Sturm Graz

Group G
Villarreal CF, S.S. Lazio, PFC Levski Sofia, FC Salzburg

Group H
FC Steaua Bucureşti, Fenerbahçe SK, FC Twente, FC Sheriff

Group I
SL Benfica, Everton FC, AEK Athens FC, FC BATE Borisov

Group J
FC Shakhtar Donetsk, Club Brugge KV, FK Partizan, Toulouse FC

Group K
PSV Eindhoven, FC København, AC Sparta Praha, CFR 1907 Cluj

Group L
Werder Bremen, FK Austria Wien, Athletic Club Bilbao,CD Nacional