Real Betis and Villarreal, the only two Spanish teams present in the Europa League, will face manageable rivals in the group stage, with Rangers and Rennes respectively as their main threats, according to the draw held this Friday in Monaco.
The Yellow Submarine, champion of the Europa League in 2021, is in Group F along with Maccabi Haïfa from Israel, the French Rennes, and the Greek Panathinaïkos, while Betis is in Group C alongside the Scottish Rangers, the Czech Sparta Prague, and the Cypriot Aris Limassol.
The draw was also kind to one of the top favorites for the title, Liverpool, who will fight for a place in the knockout rounds with the Austrian Lask, the Belgian Union Saint-Gilloise, and the French Toulouse in Group E.
Fifth in the Premier League last season, the Anfield club is playing in the Europa League for the first time since the 2015-2016 season, when they lost the final to Sevilla.
José Mourinho's Roma, who lost last season's final to Sevilla in a penalty shootout, will play their first matches with Czech Slavia Prague, Moldovan Sheriff Tiraspol, and Swiss Servette in Group G.
But the most evenly matched group a priori will be Group B, with two former European champions like Ajax from Amsterdam and Olympique de Marseille, accompanied by the English Brighton and Hove Albion and AEK Athens.
The group stage of the second European competition will start on September 21, and the final is scheduled in Dublin, Ireland on May 22, 2024.
Only the winners of each group directly advance to the round of 16. The runners-up will play a playoff against the third-placed teams from the Champions League groups for a spot in the round of 16. The third-placed teams from the Europa League groups will play in the playoff of the Conference League.
Group A: West Ham United (ENG), Olympiakos (GRE), Friburgo (GER), TSC Backa Topola (SRB)
Group B: Ajax (NED), Marseille (FRA), Brighton and Hove Albion (ENG), AEK Athens (GRE)
Group C: Rangers (SCO), Real Betis (ESP), Sparta Prague (CZE), Aris Limassol (CYP)
Group D: Atalanta (ITA), Sporting (POR), Sturm Graz (AUT), Rakow Czestochowa (POL)
Group E: Liverpool (ENG), LASK (AUT), Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL), Toulouse (FRA)
Group F: Villarreal (ESP), Rennes (FRA), Maccabi Haifa (ISR), Panathinaikos (GRE)
Group G: Roma (ITA), Slavia Prague (CZE), Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA), Servette (SUI)
Group H: Bayer Leverkusen (GER), Qarabag (AZE), Molde (NOR), Haecken (SWE)