Haitham Hassan in the eye of the storm: the Europa League draw pits Celtic against Marseille, Benfica and Celta Vigo

A difficult road

UEFA lit up the European calendar once more on Friday, staging the Europa League league phase draw just a night after the Champions League ceremony.

There will be no gentle introductions this season. The draw threw the continent's heavyweights together from the off, setting up clashes that will shape the title race from round one.

The Egyptian star is present

Egypt has its representative on the European stage yet again. All eyes will be on young star Haitham Hassan, who joined Scotland's Celtic during the current summer transfer window and is preparing for his first continental outings in the shirt of the Scottish giant.

Celtic drew a brutal, thrilling route. They face eight matches against a mix of footballing schools: Olympique Marseille, Benfica, Ferencvaros, Union Saint-Gilloise, Celta Vigo, Omonia, Besiktas and Utrecht.

It's a packed schedule that blends the European pedigree of giants like Marseille, Benfica and Besiktas with the hunger of sides desperate to spring a surprise. Hassan and his team-mates face a genuine test to prove they can compete and snatch a ticket to the knockout rounds.