Moscow, Aug 10 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Dynamo Moscow will face a tough fight for a place in the Europa League group stage after they were drawn against German Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart Friday.

Dynamo striker Kevin Kuranyi will be facing his former club, where, he has said, he wants to finish his career.

The draw for the playoff stage also pits big-spending Anzhi against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, while CSKA Moscow will play AIK of Sweden.

In other ties, Liverpool play Scottish club Hearts, Newcastle take on Greek side Atromitos and last year's beaten Europa League finalists Athletic Bilbao take on HJK Helsinki of Finland.

Dynamo qualified for the playoffs by beating Dundee United 7-2 on aggregate, while Anzhi beat another Dutch team, Vitesse Arnhem, 4-0 on aggregate in the previous round.

CSKA enter the tournament in the playoff stage due to their third-place Russian Premier League finish last season, while the fourth Russian team, Rubin Kazan, received an automatic group stage berth after winning the Russian Cup.

The first leg matches take place August 23, with Anzhi at home. The second legs are scheduled for August 30.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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