Former European champions Liverpool, Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund were all paired with comfortably beatable opponents in yesterday's draw for the UEFA Cup first round.
Liverpool, who won the UEFA Cup in 2001, will face Slovenia's Olimpija Ljubljana, while Barcelona will open in Slovakia against Puchov as a seeding system avoided any major clashes.
Borussia Dortmund, bundled out of the Champions League qualifiers by Club Bruges after a penalty shoot-out, will take on Austria Vienna in what should be a straightforward win for the 1997 European champions.
Newcastle United, who similarly lost on penalties to Partizan Belgrade in another midweek upset, will take on Dutch side NAC Breda, while Valencia, Champions League finalists in 2000 and 2001, drew AIK Stockholm.
An extra twist was added to Anglo-Turkish rivalry with Blackburn Rovers, coached by former Galatasaray boss Graeme Souness, paired with Genclerbirligi.
Chelsea were drawn in a Champions League group with Besiktas on Thursday, while England face a crunch Euro 2004 qualifier in Turkey in October.
The first leg ties will be played on Sept. 24, with the return legs on October 15.
Meanwhile, Manchester City booked their spot in the first round proper of the UEFA Cup on Thursday doing just enough to ease past Welsh minnows TNS 2-0 at the Millennium stadium.
Late goals in each half from Christian Negouai and Darren Huckerby gave Kevin Keegan's men a 7-0 aggregate victory.
Keegan made 10 changes from the side that won the first leg 5-0 deciding to rest many first team players with the tie all but over, but the English Premiership side were made to work hard before advancing.
The Welsh went close to opening the scoring when Richard Dunne deflected a Paul Naylor shot onto his own post, and following this wake-up call City's Negouai secured a 43rd-minute opener.
The second half followed a similar pattern, and Huckerby wrapped up the victory nine minutes from the end after good work by Shuan Wright-Phillips.
Also through are Scottish side Dundee, who had a four-goal win over Albanian side Vllaznia.
Goals from Nacho Novo (2), Juan Sara and Gavin Rae gave Jim Duffy's men the victory which wrapped up a 6-0 aggregate triumph.
Irish side Derry crashed to Apoel Nicosia, who advance 5-1 on aggregate, after winning through 3-0 in Northern Ireland.
The hosts fell behind in the 36th minute when Marinos Satsias fed Costakis Malekos, who drove it low into the net.
Constantinos Charalaubides claimed the second for the visitors after 80 minutes racing through unchallenged and 10 minutes later George Papandreon added a third.
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