Everton Draw Lille, Wolfsburg and FC Krasnodar

Everton will face Lille, Wolfsburg and FC Krasnodar in the Europa League groups stages as they begin their first European campaign since 2009-10.

Lille finished third in France’s Ligue 1 and Wolfsburg came fifth in Germany’s Bundesliga, while Krasnodar finished fifth in the Russian league.

Everton, a third seed, were considered the team to avoid and Everton’s eventual Group H has been recognised in a poll on UEFA.com as the toughest group of the competition, with Klaus Allofs, Wolfsburg sporting director remarking that the group “looks a bit like a Champions League group. It won’t be easy” and other opponents commenting of their relief to avoid Everton with Maarten Martens, PAOK midfielder commenting “It’s a good draw, especially avoiding Everton from the third pot”

MATCHDAY ONE: Everton v Wolfsburg, Thursday 18 September, 8.05pm (BST)
MATCHDAY TWO: FC Krasnodar v Everton, Thursday 2 October, 5pm (BST)
MATCHDAY THREE: Lille v Everton, Thursday 23 October, 6pm (UK)
MATCHDAY FOUR: Everton v Lille, Thursday 6 November, 8.05pm (UK)
MATCHDAY FIVE: Wolfsburg v Everton, Thursday 27 November, 6pm (UK)
MATCHDAY SIX: Everton v FC Krasnodar, Thursday 11 December, 8.05pm (UK)