Spurs and Reds face tough Europa League trips to Italy

Published on 01/09/2012 02:14

Tottenham and Liverpool were both handed tough-looking Italian jobs yesterday after being paired with Lazio and Udinese in the Europa League group-stage draw.

Spurs will open their Group J campaign against Lazio at White Hart Lane on 20 September before facing Panathinaikos and Slovenian side Maribor.

Liverpool’s reward for edging past Hearts in the play-off round was a match-up with Udinese, who finished third in Serie A but lost their Champions League play-off tie. They were joined in Group A by mega-rich Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala and Swiss side Young Boys.

Newcastle, in their first European campaign for six years are in Group D with Bordeaux, Club Brugge and Maritimo.

Tottenham’s trip to Lazio on 22 November could have added spice after Paul Gascoigne was promised an invitation to the game to celebrate the link he created between the two clubs.

Lazio general manager Maurizio Manzini revealed the former England star, 45, would be approached to attend the game at the Stadio Olimpico.

Gascoigne joined Lazio from Spurs in 1992 and almost immediately secured a place in their folklore. His first goal for the club was a last-gasp equaliser in the Rome derby.

Manzinisaid: “Tottenham is a team Lazio knows very well, a great team with great traditions and we are very familiar with White Hart Lane starting from the time we had Paul Gascoigne.

“There is always a corner of Tottenham in our hearts. He is a mythical figure for Lazio fans and very popular in general in Italy. I remember the Atlanta ultras, who had a reputation for being really tough, opened an enormous banner with a picture of a huge bottle of beer saying ‘This is for you Gazza’.

“I hope we will have the chance to see him in London and, for sure, we will invite him to the match in Rome.”

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admitted: “We have got a difficult group, but it is another step forward. European football is brilliant for this club and we look forward to going further in the competition.”

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew was relieved to avoid a trip to eastern Europe. “It’s a great draw in terms of the travelling element, which I was pleased about because they are all pretty accessible,” he said. “The competition is strong, but it could be worse, so we are pleased with it.”