MONACO (AP) — Seven-time European champion AC Milan’s bid for a first Europa League title continues in a group with Austria Vienna, Croatian champion Rijeka and AEK Athens.
Milan returns to UEFA competitions after a three-year absence, and avoided long travel for Thursday games that lurk in the 48-team draw.
Arsenal, however, will go to Belarus to face BATE Borisov and also plays Cologne and Red Star Belgrade. Arsene Wenger’s team last played in the second-tier competition in 2000 when it was UEFA Cup runner-up.
Tough groups included the pool of Lyon, Everton, Atalanta and Apollon Limassol, and top-seeded Lazio with Nice, Zulte Waregem and Vitesse.