Europa Conference League 2021/22 Group Stage Draw: Tottenham face Rennes, Vitesse Arnheim and NS Mura in competition's inaugural campaign

Tottenham will face relatively tough opposition in the inaugural Europa Conference League after Friday's draw in Istanbul revealed the Londoners' opponents.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side, who recovered from a first-leg deficit to defeat Pacos de Ferreira in the qualifier, were pitted against Rennes, Vitesse Arnheim and NS Mura.

Rennes, who featured in last season's Champions League, represent a stern test given the level of the competition, while Vitesse Arnheim finished fourth in the 2020/21 Eredivisie.

Slovenia's NS Mura, competing in a European competition proper for the first time, make up the numbers against a Tottenham side relieved to have Harry Kane for this campaign.

As a top seed, and Britain's only representative in the maiden Europa Conference League competition, Tottenham will be flying the flag solely.

The competition's other big boy, Jose Mourinho's Roma find themselves pitted against Ukraine's Zorya Luhansk, historic Bulgarian club CSKA Sofia and Norwegian upstarts Bodo/Glimt.

An eclectic Group B features Belgium's Gent, Partizan Belgrade, Cypriots Anorthosis Famagusta and Flora - Estonia's first-ever representatives in a European competition proper.

Eredivisie outfit AZ Alkmaar meet Romania's CFR Cluj, the Czech Republic's Jablonec and Danish new boys Randers FC in Group D.

Slavia Prague, who fell to Arsenal in last season's Europa League, are drawn into an evenly-matched group alongside Dutch giants Feyenoord, Germany's surprise packages Union Berlin and Israeli outfit Maccabi Haifa.

FC Copenhagen were a top seed in Group G alongside PAOK Thessaloniki of Greece, Slovakia's sole representatives Slovan Bratislava and Gibraltar's first-ever side in Europe - Lincoln Red Imps.

And finally Group H features some tough trips for top seed Basel as the Swiss side face Azerbaijani's dominant force Qarabag, Kairat Almaty of the old Kazakhstani capital and Cyprus' Omonia.

When are the other draws taking place for the 2021/22 Europa Conference League?

After the group stage draw on Friday 27 August, the draw for the new knockout round play-offs will take place at 1pm on Monday 13 December.

The Round of 16 draw will then take place at 12.30pm on Friday 25 February 2022, while the quarter-final and semi-final draw is set for Friday 18 March 2022 at 1pm.

What are the dates for the 2021/22 Europa Conference League?

Group stage

Matchday 1: September 16

Matchday 2: September 30

Matchday 3: October 21

Matchday 4: November 4

Matchday 5: November 25

Matchday 6: December 9

Knockout stages

Kncokout round play-offs: February 17, 2022 – February 24, 2022

Round of 16: March 10, 2022 – March 17, 2022

Quarter-finals: April 7, 2022 – April 14, 2022

Semi-finals: April 28, 2021 – May 5, 2022

Final: May 25, 2022.

Where will the Europa Conference League final be played?

The 2022 final will be played at the Arena Kombëtare in Tirana, Albania.

The national stadium, which has a capacity of 22,500, will host the showpiece on Wednesday 25 May 2022.

What do the winners get?

The winners of the inaugural Europa Conference League will earn a place in the following season’s Europa League group stage if they have not qualified for the Champions League though league position.

Will it impact the Champions League and Europa League?

The introduction of the Europa Conference League means the number of teams competing in the Europa League group stages will be reduced from 48 to 32.

Like in the Europa Conference League, the eight runners-up in the Europa League groups will take on the eight third-placed teams in the Champions League groups for a place in the last 16.