UEFA Europa League Group Stage Predictions: Arsenal to ease through, Tricky for the Toffees

Group K

Another contender for the annual 'group of death', Group K's composition of Lazio, Nice, Zulte Waregem of Belgium and Dutch side Vitesse could fool you into thinking it were a Champions League quartet.

Each club does really epitomise the best of the rest in their respective leagues and Lazio in particular will be aiming to use this competition as a means of extending their reputation. The Rome-based side finished fifth in Serie A last term, netting a decent 74 goals in the process and with Ciro Immobile and Keita Baldé in their ranks, they are set-up well to progress from the group stage.

Nice have operated remarkably well on a shoestring budget to defy the odds and finish 3rd in Ligue 1 last term, buying players on the cheap and developing them (Mario Balotelli is a prime example). The club are so well organised that last season's heroics really warranted Champions League football but a harsh playoff exit by Napoli means that they will be looking to exert their revenge on another Italian side in Lazio and they will likely succeed.

Both Zulte Waregem and Vitesse have a strong youthful contingent and will most likely battle it out for third spot in this group.

1st - Nice

2nd - Lazio

3rd - Vitesse

4th - Zulte Waregem

Group L

The last but by no means least important group in the draw, Group L consists of Zenit, Real Sociedad, Rosenborg and Vardar of Macedonia.

Three of the four clubs competed in the Europa League playoffs this week with Zenit, Rosenborg and Vardar all dispatching decent opposition in FC Utrecht, Ajax and Fenerbahçe respectively.

Typically, Russian sides do not fair well in European competition but Zenit are by far the most experienced and have shaken off a disappointing season to lead the Russian League unbeaten and on 19 points from seven games so far.

To translate such form to continental football, Mancini's men will have to outcompete a Real Sociedad side who impressed against all the odds in La Liga last term who recovered from a poor start to finish sixth in the division.

Having added Adnan Januzaj to an already stellar squad comprised of young talent in Ruben Pardo and Mikel Oyarzabal and experience in Xabi Prieto and Carlos Vela, Real Sociedad appear to be in a very strong position to compete. Zenit's shortcoming could be their likely complacency against Rosenborg and Vardar who proved through qualifying that they can perform when it counts. Rosenborg especially looked sharp and definitely have goals in their team, most notably via Nicklas Bendtner.

1st - Real Sociedad

2nd - Rosenborg

3rd - Zenit

4th - Vardar