Reds Await A Key Week In Europe

Manchester United’s opponents in the Champions League play-off will be revealed when the draw is made at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon on Friday.

United are the top-seeded club in the final qualifying round and are already joined by fellow seeds Valencia and Bayer Leverkusen, who cannot face each other. Sporting Lisbon and Lazio also enter at this stage, and both could meet the Reds.

The identity of the remaining five teams in the draw will be determined when the second-leg matches in the third qualifying round take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In last week’s first legs, Shakhtar Donetsk claimed a goalless draw away at Fenerbahce, who handed debuts to ex-Reds Robin van Persie and Nani, while Ajax drew 2-2 at Rapid Vienna. If Shakhtar and Ajax progress, they will also be seeded in Friday’s draw and therefore cannot face United.

In the remaining ties featuring teams who could be pitted against United, Panathinaikos head to Belgium with a 2-1 lead over Club Brugge, CSKA Moscow and Sparta Prague are locked at 2-2 after the first leg in Russia, and Monaco are in command after a 3-1 away win over Young Boys.

The play-off round is split into two separate sections: a 'Champions Route' (for league winners in some of European football's less dominant nations) and a 'League Route' (for clubs who finish second, third or fourth in the more prominent European leagues, e.g. United). The losing teams in both sections enter the 2015/16 Europa League group stage.

Friday’s draw begins at 11:00 BST, with United’s two-legged tie to be played on 18/19 August and 25/26 August.

If United qualify for the group stage of the 2015/16 competition, the Reds will be in seeding pot two in the draw (which takes place on 27 August), alongside Arsenal and Manchester City, with Premier League champions Chelsea in pot one.

THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND, SECOND LEG
Tuesday 4 August: Ajax (2) v Rapid Vienna (2); Monaco (3) v Young Boys (1)
Wednesday 5 August: Sparta Prague (2) v CSKA Moscow (2); Club Brugge (1) v Panathinaikos (2); Shakhtar Donetsk (0) v Fenerbahce (0)

PLAY-OFF ROUND (ties 18/19 and 25/26 August)
Seeded: Manchester United, Valencia, Bayer Leverkusen, (Shakhtar Donetsk*, Ajax*)
Unseeded: Sporting Lisbon, Lazio plus the three qualifiers from the third qualifying round

* If either Shakhtar or Ajax fail to make the play-off round, Sporting will be seeded.
* If both Shakhtar and Ajax fail to make the play-off round, Sporting and CSKA** will be seeded.
** If Shakhtar, Ajax and CSKA fail to make the play-off round, Sporting and Lazio will be seeded.

Credit: Manutd.com