Manchester United to Play Club Brugge in Champions League Playoffs
On Friday, 7 August, the draw for the upcoming UEFA Champions League took place and the team pairings were announced. Following one year's absence from the Champions League, after they finished fourth in the Premier League last season, this year Manchester United will play against Belgian team Club Brugge.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy4h1kIlgLY[/embed]
Louis van Gaal, Manchester United's coach, who played against Brugge during his time in Barcelona, and had also played for Antwerp for a while, is reported to have said, "'It will be an interesting tie…Brugge are a good side, they reached the quarterfinals of the Europa League and finished second in the Belgian League last season.'' Nevertheless, this is considered a very good draw for United, as it means avoiding Monaco, Lazio, or CSKA Moscow, against whom playing would have been more challenging.
John Alexander, Manchester United's secretary said: "Belgian football is right at the very top and we have two Belgian players in the squad who keep us abreast of what's going on there. We go into any game with confidence. We'd like to think we can win the competition."
United's Previous History with Belgian Clubs
Manchester United have played Belgian clubs before. They've even won several matches against Belgian opponents (including an incredible 10-0 victory over Anderlecht in the 1956-57 European Cup), but never Club Brugge. Club Brugge were runners-up in the Belgian Pro League in the 2014-15 season and beat Panathinaikos 4-2 on aggregate round.
After finishing second in Belgium's top flight last season, Club Brugge is hoping to reach the group stage this year, for the first time since 2005-06.
The first leg will take place in Old Trafford (Manchester) on 18 August, and the second one at the Jan Breydel Stadium (Bruges) on 26 August.
Valencia Meets Monaco; Celtic Meets Malmö
Several more interesting pairings have been drawn on Friday. Valencia, who has also had a one-year break from the Champions League, will be playing Monaco. If Valencia win this playoff, Spain will be the first nation to ever have five clubs in the group stage. The first leg will take place on 19 August and the second on 25 August. Celtic will be playing Malmö, which probably won't be easy, as the Swedish Club beat Red Bull Salzburg 3-2 on aggregate in the 3rd qualifying round. The first leg will take place on 19 August and the second on 25 August.
Here is full draw for the Champions League:
League route
Lazio (ITA) v Bayer Leverkusen (GER) – 18 and 26 August
Manchester United (ENG) v Club Brugge (BEL) – 18 and 26 August
Sporting CP (POR) v CSKA Moskva (RUS) – 18 and 26 August
Rapid Wien (AUT) v Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) – 19 and 25 August
Valencia (ESP) v AS Monaco (FRA) – 19 and 25 August
Champions route
Astana (KAZ) v APOEL (CYP) – 18 and 26 August
Skënderbeu (ALB) v Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) – 19 and 25 August
Celtic (SCO) v Malmö (SWE) – 19 and 25 August
FC Basel (SUI) v Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR) – 19 and 25 August
BATE Borisov (BLR) v Partizan (SRB) – 18 and 26 August
Blog categories
Also on Ticket Gum
In-Depth Review of the Tottenham vs Man United Match Experience
In the latest Tottenham vs Man United match, we dive into the game highlights, key moments, and fan experiences. Discover what happened on the field and what it’s like to attend one of these highly anticipated matches.
Top Football Premier League Fixtures for 2024/25 Season
Curious about the upcoming football Premier League fixtures for the 2024/25 season? This article covers all the key matches and dates you need to know, ensuring you stay up-to-date with your favorite teams’ schedules.
Key Takeaways
-
The 2024/25 Premier League season starts on August 16, 2024, with Manchester United facing Fulham, setting a competitive tone for the season.
The World’s Most Football-Crazy Countries
With around 3.5 billion fans worldwide, football is the single most popular sport in the world, harnessing the power to captivate nations like no other sport.
Modern football, as we know it today, originated in 19th-century England, but the present-day
Ranked: The Top 10 Best Stadiums in the World
It’s known as ‘the beautiful game’ for a reason. In the world of football, where passion and camaraderie converge, stadiums serve as the majestic arenas where dreams are made, legends are born, and history is written. From the roar of the crowd to the excitement of penalty shootouts, stadiums aren’t just a place to watch this incredible sport: they’re also a place for communities to gather.
Which Country Has the Fastest Footballers on FIFA?
Football is a sport that transcends borders, cultures, and languages — uniting fans around the world in their love of the game. The same rings true for EA’s FIFA 23.
Speed is a key factor in the game, and indeed the sport as a whole.