NYON, Switzerland – Manchester United must beat Belgian outfit Club Brugge in a playoff to advance to the Champions League group stage after a one-year absence.
Two-time finalists Valencia were paired with Monaco, quarter-finalists last season, in yesterday’s 20-team playoff-round draw.
Lazio will face Bayer Leverkusen, and Sporting Lisbon will take on CSKA Moscow.
Rapid Vienna, the lowest-ranked team among the non-champions in the draw, are at home first against Shakhtar Donetsk.
First-leg matches will be played on August 18 and 19, and return matches on August 25 and 26. The ten winners advance to the 32-team group-stage draw on August 27 in Monaco.
Three-time winners United return to Europe’s top club competition after a one-year absence, which was its first since 1995-96.
The reward for advancing is a 12 million euros ($F28m) prizemoney bonus from European governing body UEFA for being in the group stage, plus 2 million euros ($F4m) for winning the playoff.
UEFA has increased Champions League prize money by 33 per cent this season, and will share more than 1.2 billion euros) among the 32 group-stage clubs.
Playoff losers this month are compensated with 3 million euros ($F7m) and a place in the Europa League groups, which guarantees a 2.4 million euros ($F4.6m) bonus.
DRAW::
Astana (KAZ) v APOEL (CYP)
Skenderbeu (ALB) v Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
Celtic (SCO) v Malmo (SWE)
Basel (SUI) v Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR)
BATE Borisov (BLR) v Partizan Belgrade (SRB)
Lazio (ITA) v Bayer Leverkusen (GER)
Manchester United (ENG) v Club Brugge (BEL)
Sporting Lisbon (POR) v CSKA Moscow (RUS)
Rapid Vienna (AUT) v Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
Valencia (ESP) v Monaco (FRA)
