Soccer-Bayern start UEFA Cup against Belenenses

MONACO, Aug 31 (Reuters) Bayern Munich will start their UEFA Cup campaign against Portugal's Belenenses, while fellow favourites Ajax Amsterdam were handed a first round tie with Dinamo Zagreb in today's draw.

Bayern, who won the competition in 1996, missed out on a Champions League spot after finishing fourth in the Bundesliga last season.

''I am happy with this draw,'' Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld told the club's Web site (www.fcbayern.de). ''This is a tie that we will win.

''However, Belenenses is a team we shall not underestimate.'' Ajax, the 1992 winners, have dropped down into the UEFA Cup after losing to Slavia Prague in the final round of the Champions League qualifiers.

Tottenham Hotspur, the first winners of the UEFA Cup in 1972, will take on Cyprus's Anorthosis, while their Premier League rivals Everton face Ukraine's Metalist.

''It's going to be a discovery. It is a team that we do not know at all,'' Tottenham's sporting director Damien Comolli told reporters.

''Last year was a big frustration for us,'' Comolli added, referring to their quarter-final defeat by eventual winners Sevilla.

Bolton Wanderers take on Rabotnicki of Macedonia and Blackburn Rovers have been drawn against Greece's Larissa.

The ties will be played on Sept. 20 and Oct. 4.

The 40 first round winners will then be drawn in eight groups of five, with the top three of each group progressing to the knockout phase. They will be joined at that stage by the eight teams who finish third in their Champions League group.

REUTERS TB KP2153