Europa League draw

Schalke will meet Lucien Favre's Nice in the group stages of the UEFA Europa League. Favre, the former Borussia Mönchengladbach coach, who resigned from his post last season, returns to Germany with the French side, which includes new signing Dante in their ranks.

The Royal Blues, previous winners of the UEFA Cup in 1997, will also meet Austrian champions Salzburg, who missed out on the Champions League in the playoff stage, and Russian side Krasnodar.

Meanwhile, Mainz - in the group phase for the first time - were handed a favorable draw, facing Anderlecht, who lost in Champions League qualifying. Martin Schmidt's side will take on ten-time French champions Saint-Etienne and Azeri outfit Gabala, who lost to Borussia Dortmund last year.

Elsewhere, Manchester United were drawn with Turkish powerhouses Fenerbahce and two-time UEFA Cup winners Feyenoord. Jose Mourinho's men were also paired with Ukrainian cracks Zorya Luhansk, who play their European fixtures in Kyiv due to conflict in their home region.

Here is the full group phase draw for the Europa League:

Group A: Manchester United, Fenerbahce, Feyenoord, Zorya Luhansk

Group B: Olympiacos, APOEL Nicosia, Young Boys, Astana

Group C: Anderlecht, Saint-Etienne, Mainz, Gabala

Group D: Zenit, AZ Alkmaar, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Dundalk

Group E: Viktoria Plzen, Roma, Austria Vienna, Astra

Group F: Athletic Club, Genk, Rapid Vienna, Sassuolo

Group G: Ajax, Standard Liege, Celta Vigo, Panathinaikos

Group H: Shakhtar Donestk, Braga, Gent, Konyaspor

Group I: Schalke, FC Salzburg, Krasnodar, Nice

Group J: Fiorentina, PAOK, Slovan Liberec, Qarabag

Group K: Inter Milan, Sparta Prague, Southampton, Hapoel Be'er-Sheva

Group L: Villarreal, Steaua Bucharest, Zürich, Osmanlispor