Promise of drama on opening night

The opening night of the UEFA Cup group stage on 25 October will see 1996 tournament winners FC Bayern München visit Serbia to take on 1991 European Champion Clubs' Cup winners FK Crvena Zvezda.

Bayern in Belgrade
Ottmar Hitzfeld's side will be looking to continue their impressive start to the season when they travel to Belgrade, while also in Group F Bolton Wanderers FC host SC Braga. In Group A, Larissa FC will attempt to claim the scalp of another English Premier League team as they go to Everton FC, having overcome Blackburn Rovers FC in the first round. In the same section, Dutch coach Dick Advocaat will relish the arrival of AZ Alkmaar to face his FC Zenit St. Petersburg side.

Plum ties
Fellow Russian outfit FC Lokomotiv Moskva welcome Club Atlético de Madrid in an attractive-looking Group B tie, while group stage debutants Aberdeen FC journey to Panathinaikos FC. The pick of the remaining matches is perhaps in Group C where Villarreal CF entertain ACF Fiorentina. Elsewhere, 1984 winners Tottenham Hotspur FC tackle Getafe CF and Galatasaray SK are at FC Girondins de Bordeaux.

To see all the UEFA Cup group stage fixtures, click here.