Europa League Preview

Tottenham host Rubin Kazan in Europa League action on Thursday with Spurs looking to bounce back from their 2-2 draw with Newcastle at the weekend.

After defensive frailties let the Premier League side down once again on their trip to Newcastle, Harry Redknapp's team will need to curtail Rubin's former Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins if they are to claim the three points from the Russian outfit at White Hart Lane.

Spurs and Rubin are tied on top of Group A with four points each with Rubin ahead on goal difference.

Martins has proved somewhat of a thorn in Tottenham's side, having scored in his first four games against the club for Newcastle - all of them wins.

Greek side PAOK FC play host to Irish team Shamrock Rovers in the other Group A fixture.

Group I leaders Atletico Madrid travel away to take on Serie A side Udinese as both sides battle for top spot with four points each.

The Spanish club will be looking to Brazilian midfielder Diego to pull the strings with the side hosting what should prove to be one of the matches of the round.

Scottish giants Celtic travel across the channel to take on French team Stade Rennes in the group's other match with both clubs only managing to pick up a point so far in their respective campaigns.

AEK Athens travel north to battle Lokomotiv Moscow in Group L without star striker Eidur Gudjonsen, who broke his leg against Olympiakos on Saturday.

AEK have no points so far and new coach Nikos Kostenoglou must steel his men for a rough night as Lokomotiv attempt to seal qualification and continue their formidable record at home.

The other fixture in the group sees Belgian side Anderlecht travel away to Austria's SK Sturm Graz.

In Group E, Stoke, fresh from their 2-0 win over Fulham in the Premier League, host Israel side Maccabi Tel Aviv as Tony Pulis looks to maintain their position on top of the group.

Dynamo Kiev and Besiktas do battle in the other group match.

Lazio are on the road to Swiss side FC Zurich in Group D full of confidence following their morale-boosting derby win over Roma in the Serie A. Manager Edoardo Reja has star strikers Miroslav Klose and Djibril Cisse in form and will need both to get their campaign rolling after picking up just a point.

Sporting Lisbon host FC Vaslui in the other match.

In Group K, Polish club Wisla Krakow host Fulham while Odense face Dutch outfit FC Twente.

Fulham boss Martin Jol will seek to cement the Cottagers' passage into the next round of the Europa League with a win, with Andrew Johnson, fresh from a hat-trick in their 6-0 thrashing of QPR a week ago, fit and raring to go.

Twente will look to build on their 4-1 hammering of Krakow last round with danger man Marc Janko at the frontline of their attack, and confident with two goals against the Poles.

Swedish outfit Malmo is at home to Metalist Kharkiv while Dutch side AZ Alkmaar travel away to play Austria Wien in Group G.

In Group H Maribor play host to Portuguese side Braga with Club Brugge entertaining English Championship side Birmingham.

In Group J action, AEK Larnaca host Bundesliga side Schalke while Maccabi Haifa host Romanian team Steaua Bucharest.

Belgian club Standard Liege is at home to FC Vorska Poltava in Group B with German club Hannover playing host to Copenhagen.

In Group C, Rapid Bucuresti is at home to Legia Warsaw, with Hapoel Tel Aviv hosting PSV.

And in Group F, SV Salzburg travel to Spain to take on Athletic Bilbao, while Slovan Bratislava host Ligue 1 leaders PSG.

Europa League Preview

Athletic Bilbao meets Paris Saint-Germain in Group F while Sporting Lisbon host Lazio in Group D in the pick of Thursday's Europa League games.

PSG have enjoyed a strong start to the French Ligue 1 season, sitting second on the table following their 3-0 win over Montpellier on Saturday.

They enjoyed a 3-1 win over Austrian side Salzburg in their first Europa League match, and manager Antoine Kombouare will be hoping for more good form from striker Kevin Gameiro, who has five goals to his name so far this season.

They journey to an Athletic Bilbao side languishing second from the bottom of the La Liga table, with just two points from their opening five matches.

Group F's other match sees Salzburg host Slovakians Slovan Bratislava.

In Group D, Edy Reja's Lazio journey to Lisbon to take on Sporting, and the Italian side will be keen to bounce back after being held to a shock 2-2 draw in Rome by Romanians Vaslui in their first Europa League match.

Vaslui play host to FC Zurich in Piatra Neamt with both teams keen for their first win.

Ireland's Shamrock Rovers will play their first competitive match in England since 1957 when they meet Tottenham at White Hart Lane in Group A, while the group's other game pits Russians Rubin Kazan against Greek side PAOK.

Martin Jol's Fulham visit Denmark when they tackle Odense in Group K, while Polish champions Wisla Krakow travel to Enschede to face Dutch side Twente.

In Group E, Stoke host Turkish outfit Besiktas while Dynamo Kiev star Andriy Shevchenko will celebrate his 35th birthday when his side travel to Israel to meet Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Birmingham are in Slovenia to tackle Maribor in Group H, with 2010/11 runners-up Braga hosting Club Brugge in the group's other game.

Scottish club Celtic will have it all to do to register their first points of the tournament when they welcome Serie A heavyweights Udinese to Parkhead in Group I.

French club Rennes play host to Atletico Madrid in the group's other match.

German side Schalke meets Israelis Maccabi Haifa in Gelsenkirchen in Group J, while Steaua Bucharest travel to Cyprus to play AEK Larnaca.

Group L sees Belgium side Anderlecht in Moscow to play Lokomotiv, while Austrians Sturm Graz visit AEK Athens.

Swedish outfit Malmo play host to Austria Wien in Group G, and AZ Alkmaar face the tricky trip to Ukraine to tackle Metalist Kharkiv.

German team Hannover is also in Ukraine, to meet Vorskla in Group B, and Standard Liege welcome FC Copenhagen in the group's other match.

PSV Eindhoven are away to Romanian opposition in the shape of Rapid Bucuresti in Group C, and Israel's Hapoel Tel Aviv are in Poland to do battle with Legia Warsaw.

Tough Draw For Arsenal In Champions League Play-Off

Arsenal have been handed a Champions League play-off tie against Italian side Udinese.

Arsene Wenger's men collapsed at the end of the last Barclays Premier League season to finish fourth and so face a qualifying tie to secure safe passage to the lucrative group stages for a 14th season.

The Gunners were seeded for the draw in Nyon, and will face a two-legged fixture over August 16/17 and 23/24, which is sandwiched between some tough Barclays Premier League games against Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester United.

Even though Arsenal were one of the seeds, there was no fixture weighting, meaning the Gunners will play the first leg at Emirates Stadium.

Wenger, though, must serve a one-match touchline ban following UEFA disciplinary action in the wake of last season's second-round exit to Barcelona in the Nou Camp, after being charged with "inappropriate language" directed towards referee official Massimo Busacca.

The Swiss official had controversially shown Robin van Persie a second yellow card for shooting at goal just one second after he had blown the whistle for offside - the Dutch striker claimed he had not heard it due to the noise of the 95,000-plus crowd.

The 10-men of Arsenal, who had beaten Barcelona in the first leg, went on to lose 3-1 to crash out of Europe.

Midfielder Samir Nasri was also sanctioned by UEFA for his outburst at Busacca, and will not be available, nor will van Persie, whose suspension was carried over into Arsenal's next European tie.

Other Play-Off Round Draw:

Wisla Krakow v Apoel FC

Maccabi Haifa v Genk

Dinamo Zagreb v Malmo

FC Copenhagen v Viktoria Plzen

BATE Borisov v Sturm Graz

Odense v Villarreal

FC Twente v Benfica

Bayern Munich v FC Zurich

Lyon v Rubin Kazan

Europe Prepares For Big Kick Off

The new season begins across Europe over the coming weeks with the continent's leading five leagues promising the usual glamour and excitement.

Here, we take a look at the season ahead in Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Holland.

SPAIN

It takes a special coach to escape the sack at Real Madrid after failing to win either La Liga or the Champions League.

But in 'The Special One' Jose Mourinho, the Spanish giants saw enough to believe he can eventually topple Barcelona.

Despite Barca still winning the title at a canter, Madrid made more of a fist of challenging their bitter rivals than in previous seasons and a memorable four-match series late in the campaign was closely fought.

Madrid's strengthening has been low key with Jose Maria Callejon, Fabio Coentrao, Hamit Altintop and Nuri Sahin coming in.

Barca's marquee signing of Alexis Sanchez is an appetizing one but they have failed so far to bring in bodies to increase their strength in depth.

In the 'best of the rest' category, the usual suspects of Valencia, Villarreal and Sevilla are joined by ambitious Malaga following the Andalucian outfit's recruitment drive.

Joaquin, Jeremy Toulalan, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Sergio Sanchez are among the stellar names brought in so far and after being backed so heavily, Manuel Pellegrini will at least be expected to make a push for the top four.

At the bottom, Real Betis should have enough about them to stay up after promotion while Granada and Rayo Vallecano will surely struggle. Previous years have shown, however, that such minnows cannot be written off before a ball is kicked.

ITALY

Italian football remains in a transitional period - the old names are there but the quality is not.

The likes of champions AC Milan, rivals Inter Milan and fallen giants Juventus are left fighting for the scraps left by their English, Spanish and even Brazilian counterparts in the transfer market.

Milan have failed to really strengthen aside from bringing in centre-half Philippe Mexes on a free from Roma, but neither have they been seriously weakened, with Andrea Pirlo their only major loss, to Juventus.

Inter have also been relatively low key, but Juve are at least trying to make a fight of it.

The Turin side has brought in Pirlo, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Alessandro Matri and Arturo Vidal, while also securing Fabio Quagliarella and Simone Pepe long-term.

But if Napoli holds on to the big names who helped them to third last season they can push the traditional big names even further this time around.

Marek Hamsik, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani are all Champions League quality but must reproduce last year's form on both fronts this year.

At the bottom, traditional yo-yo clubs Atalanta and Siena, fresh from promotion, must scrap it out with fellow newcomers Novara plus the likes of Cesena and Lecce.

GERMANY

The world's best-value league swings into action on August 5 as the Bundesliga season gets under way with champions Borussia Dortmund squaring off with Hamburg in something of a glamour tie.

Jurgen Klopp's men captured the imagination by claiming the trophy last season with a pleasing blend of creative expression and earnest efficiency.

The fact they duelled with Bayer Leverkusen for the crown rather than more traditional powerhouses such as Bayern Munich, Stuttgart or Wolfsburg added to the enjoyment for German football fans.

They face a stiff task to retain their crown, particularly following the departure of Turkish midfielder Nuri Sahin, but the squad remains largely intact and their rivals have not significantly strengthened.

Leverkusen have lost coach Jupp Heynckes as well as stellar utility man Arturo Vidal to Juventus, while fallen giants Bayern have not pulled up any trees in the transfer market.

In Heynckes, though, the Bavarians have a canny coach and will surely make a decent fist of a title push.

Hamburg is the dark horses after a busy summer of transfer activity under new sporting director Frank Arnesen.

FRANCE

Ligue 1 may not compare with the likes of England, Spain and Italy for quality, but it is rarely predictable these days.

After Lyon's decade of dominance the landscape has changed in France with Bordeaux, Marseille and Lille grabbing the initiative and enlivening Le Championnat by sharing the last three league titles.

Last season's feel-good story was undoubtedly Lille's sudden ascension to the top table, winning the title at a canter in the end.

Few expect Rudi Garcia's side to retain the crown, but equally nobody can say with any authority who will take it from them.

The champions have lost key men over the summer as the vultures circled to take key creator Yohan Cabaye, forward Gervinho and defender Adil Rami.

However, Dmitri Payet's arrival from St Etienne is shrewd business, Benoit Pedretti is an experienced campaigner and the retention of Rio Mavuba, Eden Hazard and last season's top marksman Moussa Sow could be crucial.

Marseille have been relatively low key with Alou Diarra their marquee signing, while Bordeaux, under Francis Gillot and without anchor Diarra, may struggle to crack the top three once more.

Lyon will be an unknown quantity under new boss Remi Garde having opted against making big-name signings, but all eyes will be on notorious under-achievers Paris St Germain after they were bought out by the Qatar Investment Authority.

Kevin Gameiro's signing is an interesting one and he is joined by various new faces. Whether they gel properly and finally bring the title back to the capital remains to be seen.

New faces Dijon, Evian and Ajaccio will surely struggle, as will Nice - who have lost key men - and plucky but under-qualified Brest.

HOLLAND

The Eredivisie rarely fails to deliver drama and excitement, even if the standard cannot live up to the other 'big five' leagues.

Aristocrats Ajax reclaimed the title last term under Frank de Boer after struggling for six barren years. It was their 30th and they will be expected to add to that again this season.

Twente's Theo Janssen is an exciting signing as Ajax gamble on his undoubted ability but highly questionable temperament.

Old rivals PSV Eindhoven will be there or thereabouts to ensure the Amsterdammers do not have it all their own way.

They have not pulled up any trees in the personnel department, but have gone about their business quietly with some sensible, under-stated signings. However, winger Balazs Dzsudzsak's defection to Russia's Anzhi Makhachkala was a real blow.

After Steve McClaren won Twente the title in 2010, Michel Preud'homme did well to secure second place and the KNVB Cup last season, but he has also moved on and replacement Co Adriaanse must utilize his wealth of experience to keep them at the top table.

Utrecht have been decimated by transfer outgoings and might find themselves embroiled in the relegation scrap, while Excelsior's time might finally run out.

Champions League Preview

Otelul Galati. There's a name to conjure with.

A sizeable section of the footballing fraternity will not even know which country they play in, still less where it is. Are they from Otelul, or Galati?

Quick lesson. Otelul play in Galati, in Romania, not far from the border with Moldova.

They have featured in the Romanian top division for 13 seasons but won the title for the first time last term and thereby qualified straight into the Champions League.

If an English team were to draw them, you get there by flying to Bucharest before completing the remaining 200 kilometres by train or car.

Who says Europe's elite club competition is getting too stale?

There are other debutants too. Napoli, who last got in when the tournament was the European Cup, with Diego Maradona leading their attack, in 1990. And then there is Manchester City.

Roberto Mancini's men will be the most intriguing participants, a combination of wealth, novelty and seeding underlining their appeal.

Relative lack of European exposure down the years means that City will be amongst the third seeds when the draw is made in Monaco on August 25.

With Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal - if the Gunners qualify - all guaranteed top seedings and therefore unable to face their Premier League rivals in the group phase, it means City will get Porto, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid or holders Barcelona.

In fact, one of those infernal groups of death could pitch City into combat with Barcelona, AC Milan and German champions Borussia Dortmund. What a prospect that would be.

Arsenal's participation is by no means guaranteed given the turbulence experienced at the north London outfit this summer, confidence hardly bolstered by their miserable end to last season.

As Dynamo Kiev and Udinese are potential qualifying round opponents, nothing can be taken for granted.

It would be a shattering blow for Arsene Wenger if they didn't make it. After all, his Gunners inflicted a defeat on Barca in the first leg of their last 16 encounter last season that would have become outright victory if Nicklas Bendtner had taken his later chance after Robin van Persie had been sent off in the return at the Nou Camp.

Barcelona's presence hangs like a cloud over everyone.

Real Madrid might believe they would have done better against the Catalans than Manchester United managed in the final.

But the pair squared up in three competitions last term and only in the Copa del Rey did Jose Mourinho come out on top.

Chelsea are still aggrieved at the manner with which they lost the 2009 semi-final to Barca, when it appeared the job was done. For Manchester United the wounds are still raw given the manner of Barca's triumph in the 2011 final at Wembley in May.

"Best club side ever," was the general cry, echoing comments made by Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, whose side failed to qualify for this season's competition having reached the quarter-finals in 2010-11.

If Pep Guardiola's men maintain recent form, they will surely become the first team to retain the Champions League in its present form and secure their third title in four years, having reached the semi-final on the other occasion, losing to Mourinho's Inter Milan.

Those who crave greatness hope they achieve it. Thirty-one rivals, from Manchester to Galati, will try to stop them.

Bulgarian FA Blocks Marquinhos Move Over Unpaid Debts

The Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) has blocked Brazilian-born midfielder Marquinhos's move from CSKA Sofia to Cypriot club Anorthosis Famagusta over unpaid debts to several clubs.

The 29-year-old, who was capped by Bulgaria immediately after obtaining citizenship earlier this year, had agreed a three-year contract on Monday but the BFU has held up the transfer, claiming CSKA owed money to three local sides.

"The transfer is blocked as CSKA still owe 421,000 levs ($319,022) to Sliven," BFU vice-president Yordan Lechkov told local media on Wednesday. "They'll not be allowed to sell or buy players until the debts are settled."

Lechkov added that CSKA also owed money to Chernomorets Burgas and Slavia Sofia, without revealing the amounts.

CSKA, however, plan to appeal the decision in court.

"We're preparing a complaint to the Sofia prosecutor as we think the actions undertaken by the BFU are unlawful and lower the prestige of the club," the 31-times Bulgarian champions CSKA said in a statement.

The Cypriot club also expects the transfer to proceed but the delay will prevent them from using the midfielder as soon as they had hoped.

"We have a perfectly legitimate contract with Marquinhos and CSKA and we should be able to sign him in 30 days according to UEFA's rules," Anorthosis coach Stanimir Stoilov told Bulgarian media.

"But the delay will affect our plans as we wanted to use Marquinhos in the Europa League."

Anorthosis play Macedonia's Rabotnicki in the third qualifying round of the European competition over two legs on Thursday and Aug. 4.