Former Champions League winners AC Milan and Benfica Lisbon were on Friday handed difficult draws in the first round of the UEFA Cup.

The Serie A club, who are bitterly disappointed at having missed out on a place in the lucrative Champions League, will need to overcome Swiss club FC Zurich if they want to rescue their international season.

Benfica Lisbon face former UEFA Cup winners SSC Neapel.

There are several other mouth-watering ties, with Belgium's Standard Liegge facing Everton, after having been earlier knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers by the Premier League's cross-town rivals Liverpool.

Cyprus outfit APOEL Nicosia were handed a dream tie against German Bundesliga club Schalke 04, who were knocked out of the Champions League earlier in the week after losing 4-0 in Atletico Madrid.

Another former Champions League winner, Borussia Dortmund face Serie A club Udinese, while FA Cup winners Portsmouth take on Vitoria Guimaraes.