BOLTON chairman Phil Gartside is expecting a "magical European night" at the Reebok Stadium after Wanderers were paired with Marseille in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup.

Sam Allardyce's side will be at home in the first leg and Gartside is relishing facing one of Europe's prestigious clubs.

"It's a fantastic draw, a team from France with a big name and we'll be looking forward to that.

"They have a far greater European pedigree than ours, but it's nice to draw a team with a good record like that.

"Playing in Europe for the first time has been an unbelievable experience - to come here and see all the big names in European football and be part of it is very special.

"The other night (in their final group match against Sevilla) we got nearly 16,000 which was reasonable in the circumstances, but I'm sure there will be a full house next time (against Marseille). It'll be a magical European night."

Allardyce admitted his side face a difficult task if they are to progress in the competition.

He said: "It's a very tough tie for us. Marseille are a quality side who have a rich European heritage.

"I would have wanted an easier tie but we will go to the south of France full of hope.

"We'll put this to the back of our minds and concentrate on the fixture when it comes in February."

The game will also feature Bolton defender Bruno N'Gotty against his former club. The Frenchman went to the Reebok Stadium on loan from Marseille in September 2001 and after a string of impressive performances the deal was made permanent in January the following year.

And it was N'Gotty's goal which helped seal Wanderers' qualification to the knockout stages following the 1-1 draw against Sevilla.

If Bolton can overcome the 2004 UEFA Cup finalists there is the prospect of a rematch against group opponents Zenit St Petersburg. The Russian side take on Rosenborg of Norway in the last 32.

Middlesbrough were given a tough draw too, against German side Stuttgart.

Boro's reward for topping their group is a game against Giovanni Trapattoni's team, who could only finish third in theirs.

A trip to Roma's Stadio Olimpico is a possibility in the last 16 should Steve McClaren's men get through, though the Italians must also see off Champions League drop-outs Club Bruges.

DRAW: Liteks Lovetch v Strasbourg, VfB Stuttgart v Middlesbrough, Slavia Prague v Palermo, Lokomotiv Moscow v Sevilla, Heerenveen v Steaua Bucuresti, Bolton v Marseille, Hertha Berlin v Rapid Bucuresti, Basle v Monaco, Udinese v Lens, Rosenborg v Zenit St Petersburg, Club Brugge v AS Roma, Shalke 04 v Espanyol, Lille v Shakhtar Donetsk, FC Thun v Hamburg, Real Betis v AZ Artmedia, Bratislava v Levski Sofia.

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