Europa League draw
August 31, 2012
Bayer Leverkusen - the only German side to have gone through to the Europa League automatically - play Ukraine's Metalist Kharkiv, Norway's Rosenborg Trondheim and Rapid Vienna.
Hanover, who earned a place in the competition through the qualifiying stage, were drawn in a group with Dutch side FC Twente, Spaniards Levante and the Swedish club Helsingborg.
Stuttgart, who also qualified through the play-offs, are into the next round with FC Copenhagen, Steaua Bucharest and the Norwegian side Molde.
Borussia Mönchengladbach dropped into the competition after losing out on a Champions League spot in their playoff against Dynamo Kyiv of Ukraine. In Gladbach's group are Olympique Marseille, Fenerbahce and Cypriot side AEL Limassol.
The group stage begins on September 20, with the final this season scheduled for May 15 in Amsterdam.
rc/pfd (dpa, AFP)