Tue Oct 7 13:13:33 2008

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AC Milan learns opponents for UEFA Cup group stage

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Milan, Italy (Sports Network) - Seven-time European champion AC Milan was drawn into Group E of the UEFA Cup on Tuesday, highlighting what is arguably the tournament's "Group of Death."

AC Milan last won the Champions League in 2006-07, but failed to qualify for Europe's top club event this season. With Brazilians Kaka and Ronaldinho, the Italian club is easily the favorite to capture the UEFA Cup.

Any group with AC Milan is automatically tough, and England's Portsmouth, Dutch side Heerenveen, Germany's Wolfsburg and Portugal's Braga round out the teams.

Manchester City was drawn into Group A with Schalke, PSG, Racing and Twente, Tottenham is in Group D with Spartak Moscow, Udinese, Dinamo Zagreb and NEC, and Aston Villa is in Group F with Hamburg, Ajax, Slavia Prague and Zilina.

The group stage starts on Oct. 23. The top three teams in each group advance to the knockout stage.

Following is the complete UEFA Cup group stage draw:

Group A: Schalke, PSG, Manchester City, Racing, Twente.

Group B: Benfica, Olympiakos, Galatasaray, Hertha Berlin, Metalist Kharkiv.

Group C: Sevilla, Stuttgart, Sampdoria, Partizan, Standard Liege.

Group D: Tottenham, Spartak Moscow, Udinese, Dinamo Zagreb, NEC.

Group E: AC Milan, Heerenveen, Braga, Portsmouth, Wolfsburg.

Group F: Hamburg, Ajax, Slavia Prague, Aston Villa, Zilina.

Group G: Valencia, Club Brugge, Rosenborg, FC Copenhagen, St. Etienne.

Group H: CSKA Moscow, Deportivo, Feyenoord, Nancy, Lech Poznan.