Seven-times European champions Milan will make their continental return away to Universitatea Craiova in the Europa League qualifiers, following the draw made by UEFA on Friday.

Milan, absent from European club football for the previous three seasons, were paired with the Romanian side in the third qualifying round and will play the first leg away from home on July 27, with the return at the San Siro on Aug. 3.

The Italian side scraped into the Europa League by finishing sixth in Serie A last season - the lowest position from which they could qualify.

Milan were sold to a Chinese-led consortium in a 740 million-euro ($844.78 million) deal in April, amid hopes that the new owners could revive a club which has become a shadow of its former self.

The other Italian sides, Lazio and Atalanta, will enter the competition at later stages.

Everton, the first English Premier League side to enter the fray, will meet either Ruzomberok of Slovakia or Brann of Norway, with the Norwegian side leading their second qualifying round 1-0 following the first leg in Slovakia, before the return leg at home next Thursday.

Zenit St Petersburg will meet either Trencin of Slovakia or Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv of Israel, and Olympique Marseille were pitted against Belgian side Oostende.

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