UEFA Champions League 2015/16

[Lineker]

Manchester United will face Belgian side Club Brugge in the Champions League play-off round, while Celtic have been drawn to play Swedish champions Malmo.

Club Brugge finished second in Belgium’s top flight last season and will be looking to reach the group stage for the first time since 2005-06. They defeated Panathinaikos 4-2 in the third qualifying round but on paper would appear to be a preferable draw to Lazio, Monaco or CSKA Moscow, who Louis van Gaal’s side could also have faced.

Van Gaal, who faced Club Brugge during his second spell with Barcelona and played in Belgium with Antwerp for four years, said: “It will be nice to go back to Belgium, I have good memories of my time playing there for Antwerp.

“In fact my debut for Antwerp was against Club Brugge and during my time as manager at Barcelona we played them in the group stages. Over two legs we have to be confident against any team, we are determined to progress in the competition.”

Celtic will feel contented, too, that they have avoided potential trips to Kazakhstan or Albania, instead facing a relatively straightforward journey to Sweden. But last year’s group stage contenders Malmo, who overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit to beat Red Bull Salzburg 3-2 on aggregate in the third qualifying round, will prove a difficult hurdle for Ronny Deila’s side.

Both British clubs will play at home in the first legs, which will take place on Tuesday 18 August of Wednesday 19 August. The return fixtures are scheduled for Tuesday 25 August or Wednesday 26 August.

The draw in full
Astana (Kazakhstan) v Apoel Nicosia (Cyprus)
Skenderbeu (Albania) v Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
Celtic (Scotland) v Malmo (Sweden)
Basel (Switzerland) v Maccabi Tel-Aviv (Israel)
BATE (Belarus) v Partizan Belgrade (Serbia)
Lazio (Italy) v Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
Manchester Utd (England) v Club Brugge (Belgium)
Sporting (Portugal) v CSKA Moscow (Russia)
Rapid Vienna (Austria) v Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)
Valencia (Spain) v Monaco (France_

[Baddar]

Same XI for United

[Baddar]

Gary Lineker as CL presenter is good. It's certainly a step up from the ITV gang. 

[TCO]

Just realised we have Champions League on TV3 on Tuesdays and RTE on Wednesdays which are both freeview. 

Yay, fuck you BT! 

[Baddar]

Bloody Irish. 

[METALMAN]

The Irish government are keeping the Champions League on free TV in anticipation of the day when Drogheda United become the first Irish team to get to the group stages.

The 2075/76 season will be huge for Irish football.

 

[Sam]

I had looked into switching to BT but unfortunately BT infinity isn't in my area for whatever reason and therefore there was no advantage to making the switch. Slightly annoying to have to pay £20 a month for it when I know I'll only watch Champions League football, therefore they better bloody go through!

[MDK]

LOL

[The Lusophone]

Yaaaaaay.

[MDK]

What a goal!

[Sam]

Wonderful from Depay

[MDK]

Wonderful from Depay

He's called Memphis :@

[LL!]

That was simply stunning work from Memphis Depay.

[Sam]

Wonderful from Depay

He's called Memphis :@

I like reminding him of his troubled life. 

[MDK]

Pick that one out!

[The Lusophone]

He's so good.

[Sam]

Memphis looks a special player in the making, taking this match by the scruff of the neck. 

[Jimmy]

Oh, so when there's no fantasy points at stake he decides to start doing something!?

[Baddar]

2-1 isn't enough. A couple more please.

Signs were there already from Memphis, but a great half from him. Hope he carries this form over to the league.

[The Lusophone]

Oh hey, I can watch this on TV3 Ireland's website.

HOW DO YOU FUCK THAT UP?