Italian Roberto De Zerbi has been named Brighton head coach on four-year contract

Brighton in group with European giants Ajax and Marseille after Europa League draw


Europa League debutants Brighton were drawn to take on former Champions League winners Ajax and Marseille in Friday’s group stage draw.

The other group opponents for Roberto De Zerbi's side are reigning Greek champions AEK Athens, a tough but exciting draw for the Seagulls.

Liverpool, three-time winners of the UEFA Cup, this competitions former guise, were placed alongside LASK, Union St Gilloise and Toulouse.

The final Premier League representative in Friday’s draw were West Ham thanks to their victory Europa Conference League victory last season.

The Hammers face Olympiacos, Freiburg and Serbian side TSC Backa Topola.

Rangers, who dropped into the Europa League after suffering a Champions League play-off defeat to PSV Eindhoven earlier this week, will take on Real Betis. Also paired with Rangers are Sparta Prague and Aris Limassol.

In the Europa Conference League draw, Aston Villa will be up against AZ Alkmaar, Legia Warsaw and Zrinjski in Group E.

The Premier League club hosted their first European game in 13 years on Thursday night, sealing their place in the group-stage draw with an 8-0 aggregate win over Hibernian in their qualifying play-off.

Aberdeen, meanwhile, have been drawn in Group G alongside Eintracht Frankfurt, PAOK Athens and Helsinki.

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