MIDDLESBROUGH and Newcastle United have both been handed difficult ties after the second round of the Uefa Cup was made in Nyon, Switzerland, this morning.

Newcastle have been placed in Group D, where they will play Hugo Viana's Sporting Lisbon, Sochaux of France, Panionios (Greece) and Dinamo Tbilisi (Georgia).

Boro will face Italian giants Lazio in Group E, as well as Spanish side Villareal, Partizan Belgrade (Serbia and Montenegro) and Egaleo (Greece).

Group D

Newcastle (England)

Sporting Lisbon (Portugal)

Sochaux (France)

Panionios (Greece)

Dinamo Tbilisi (Georgia)

Group E

Middlesbrough (England)

Lazio (Italy)

Villareal (Spain)

Partizan Belgrade (Serbia and Montenegro)

Egaleo (Greece)

Teams will play four games during the group stage - two home and two away. A computer draw will determine the fixture schedule with factors such as stadium clashes and climatic conditions taken into account. The first round of games commence on October 21.