Zenit back to defend the UEFA Cup

Holders FC Zenit St. Petersburg will defend the UEFA Cup in the new year after being confirmed as one of eight sides to enter the competition from the UEFA Champions League following the conclusion of the group stage on Wednesday night.

Trophy goal
Zenit qualified for the UEFA Champions League after winning the Russian title in 2007, but will now get the chance to match Sevilla FC's feat of winning back-to-back titles, in 2006 and 2007, as they return to the competition they won with a 2-0 victory against Rangers FC in Manchester last May. The eight sides that finished third in their UEFA Champions League groups move into the UEFA Cup knockout phase, starting with the Round of 32 on 18/19 and 26 February 2009. Dick Advocaat's side lost 3-0 to Real Madrid CF on Wednesday but were assured of their place from Group H after FC BATE Borisov failed to beat Juventus.

Ukrainian pair through
Zenit are joined in the Round of 32 by seven other third-placed finishers: FC Girondins de Bordeaux (Group A), Werder Bremen (Group B), FC Shakhtar Donetsk (Group C), Olympique de Marseille (Group D), Aalborg BK (Group E), ACF Fiorentina (Group F) and FC Dynamo Kyiv (Group G). Fiorentina, who held off the challenge of FC Steaua Bucureşti on Wednesday, reached the UEFA Cup semi-finals last season.