Liverpool, Tottenham draw tough paths through Europa League group stage

That other European continental soccer competition – the one that's often a lot more fun than the big one, but hush, you're not allowed to say that – had its draw on Friday morning. After all the glitz of the Champions League draw on Thursday, the Europa League draw was, mercifully, a more muted affair.

In this vast tournament, no fewer than 48 clubs were drawn into a dozen groups – and they'll be joined by eight more teams from the Champions League for the knockout stages. For the most part, it was a very even draw. So let's see how the bigger clubs made out.

Ajax, Celtic and Fenerbahce

None of these teams will be happy that they'll have to win whatever European glory still available to them down in UEFA's second division this season. And a brutal draw has made things even worse. Right off the bat, Group A became the competition's toughest, with three historic clubs drawn together, along with Molde, the 2014 Norwegian champions.

Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers and his Reds won't exactly have it easy, either. Rubin Kazan of Russia isn't just a strong opponent, but an awfully long way to travel as well. Bordeaux and Sion, meanwhile, are solid outfits that will ensure that there will be no simple games for the five-time European champions in Group B.

Borussia Dortmund

After something of a miracle comeback from dead-last place to seventh in Die Borussen's weird 2014-15 Bundesliga season, new manager Thomas Tuchel was handed a friendly draw in Group C. Dortmund, which sports the second-highest UEFA coefficient in this tournament, got PAOK, Krasnodar and Gabala. Lots of air miles to Greece, Russia and Azerbaijan, respectively, but few real challenges.

Napoli

After a disappointing domestic season and the departure of manager Rafa Benitez for Real Madrid, Napoli got a manageable Group D with Club Brugge, Legia Warsaw and Midtjylland. The Partenopei should advance without real trouble.

Marseille

Manager Marcelo Bielsa suddenly bailed on the club on the eve of the season, but the proud French club finally had a stroke of good fortune in the draw. Its peers in Group F – Braga, Slovan Liberec and Groningen – won't stop OM from reaching the knockout stages without breaking a sweat.

Dnipro and Lazio

Last year's finalist Dnipro – named Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in full – didn't exactly get an easy route back to the business end of this tournament. In Group G, it will face not only Lazio, but also the French record champions Saint-Etienne and Norwegian juggernaut Rosenborg as well.

Tottenham and Monaco

Two clubs that would have much rather found themselves in the Champions League will instead have to face each other in Group J. And Spurs and Monaco will have to take on Belgian powerhouse Anderlecht as well. So they'll be glad that their fourth opponent is only Qarabag from Azerbaijan.

Schalke

The highest-ranked team in this tournament, by UEFA coefficient, was handed a very easy slate in Group K. APOEL, Sparta Prague and Asteras Tripoli shouldn't slow Schalke any in its trot to the knockout stages.

Athletic Bilbao

In its campaign to become the eighth Spanish Europa Cup/League champions in 13 years, Athletic got a decent draw in Group L: AZ Alkmaar, Augsburg and Partizan Belgrade.

Leander Schaerlaeckens is a soccer columnist for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @LeanderAlphabet.