Manchester United have been handed a relatively easy draw against Club Brugge of Belgium as they seek to return to European Club Football premier competition. The stand out games of the round sees Valencia and Lazio facing Monaco and Leverkusen respectively.
The draws in full as follows:
CHAMPIONS ROUTE
Astana (KAZ) vs Apoel (CYP)
Skenderbreu (ALB) vs Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
Celtic (SCO) vs Malmo (SWE)
Basel (SUI) vs M. Tel Aviv (ISR)
Bate Borisov (BLR) vs Partizan Belgrade (SRB)
LEAGUE ROUTE
Man United (ENG) vs Club Brugge (BEL)
Sporting CP (POR) vs CSKA Moscow (RUS)
Rapid Wien (AUS) vs Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
Valencia (ESP) vs Monaco (FRA)
Lazio (ITA) vs Bayer Leverkusen (GER)
The first leg of the games will be played on 18/19th August while the return legs hold on 25/26th of August.
The 10 winners of the play off will join the 22 other teams who qualified directly to the group stage. They include: Barcelona (holders), Bayern München, Chelsea, Benfica, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Zenit, PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid. Others are Atlético Madrid, FC Porto, Arsenal, Manchester City, Sevilla, Olympique Lyonnais, Dynamo Kyiv, Olympiacos, Galatasaray, AS Roma, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Wolfsburg and KAA Gent.
Draw facts
If Valencia win their play-off, Spain will be the first nation to have five clubs in the same group stage.
Borussia Mönchengladbach could be the 11th different German side to compete in the UEFA Champions League group stage, one more than France and behind only Spain on 13. • Astana are the only remaining European Cup debutants.
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