2022/23 Europa League draw reaction: Arsenal to take on PSV as Manchester United face an old foe

The draw for the Europa League group stage has taken place in Budapest. 

Zoltan Gera, a finalist in the competition with Fulham in 2010, was the drawmaster for the 32 teams, with every match broadcast exclusively live on BT Sport.

Europa League groups 2022/23

Group A features Arsenal, who came fifth in the Premier League last season. They will face Ruud van Nistelrooy's PSV, who fell at the final hurdle in the Champions League qualifiers to Rangers, Bodo/Glimt - Celtic's conquerors in the Europa Conference League last term - and FC Zurich. 

Manchester United are in Group F, where they will be up against Neil Lennon's Omonia, Moldovan outfit Sheriff Tiraspol, who beat Real Madrid at the Bernabeu last season in the Champions League, and Real Sociedad, who have Manchester City legend David Silva in the ranks but have just lost star striker Alexander Isak to Newcastle for around £60m. Like the Gunners, the Red Devils will expect to qualify for the knockout stage. 

Group B, comprising Dynamo Kyiv, Rennes, Fenerbahce and AEK Larnaca, appears wide open, and there are some surprising names on show. The French outfit have just signed Joe Rodon on loan from Tottenham, while the Turkish giants have Gjanni Alioski, Josh King, Enner Valencia and Bright Osayi-Samuel.

Roma and Real Betis are set to vie for top spot in Group C, which also includes Ludogorets Razgrad and Helsinki's HJK. The Giallorossi have strengthened over the summer with household names Nemanja Matic, Paulo Dybala and Georginio Wijnaldum, while Betis renewed the contract of captain Joaquin, meaning the Spanish midfield maestro will play beyond his 41st birthday. This match-up is also intriguing because it pits Jose Mourinho against Manuel Pellegrini.

The Portuguese provocateur succeeded the Chilean at Real Madrid in 2010 and criticised his predecessor's work despite Los Blancos having finished the previous season on 96 points (albeit coming second to Barcelona). While in England, the pair had several run-ins, most notably when Pellegrini, then managing City, refused to shake Mourinho's hand after the Chelsea boss had jumped into the fans behind the visiting dugout to celebrate Fernando Torres' winner at Stamford Bridge in 2013. 

Group D also seems extremely difficult to call, featuring Braga, who Rangers knocked out en route to last year's final, Swedish champions Malmo, Union Berlin and Belgian outsiders Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, who only got promoted to the Belgian top flight for the first time in 48 years in 2021. 

Group F looks like a straight fight between Lazio and Feyenoord, with Midtjylland and Sturm Graz set to scrap for third place. Maurizio Sarri's side have a notable attacking presence with the likes of ex-West Ham creator Felipe Anderson, former Barcelona and Chelsea speedster Pedro and their consistently reliable captain Ciro Immobile. Feyenoord meanwhile reached the inaugural Europa Conference League final last season, losing 1-0 to Lazio's fierce rivals Roma.

Group G is another eclectic mix, with Carlos Corberan taking charge of his first European campaign having swapped Huddersfield, who lost in May's Championship play-off final, for Olympiakos, owned by Evangelos Marinakis, the man who has also bought the Terriers' vanquishers at Wembley, Nottingham Forest. Freiburg and Azerbaijani champions Qarabag will provide a stiff challenge, as will Coupe de France holders Nantes.

Lastly, Group H is no easier to pick a favourite. Red Star Belgrade are Serbian champions and led by Dejan Stankovic. Monaco lost Aurelien Tchouameni to Real Madrid but are still a force to be reckoned with, while Ferencvaros and Trabzonspor are certainly no pushovers after winning the Hungarian and Turkish leagues respectively. 

What are the important dates in the Europa League?

Matchday 1: 8 September

Matchday 2: 15 September

Matchday 3: 6 October

Matchday 4: 13 October

Matchday 5: 27 October

Matchday 6: 3 November