Many feel that this is the best side the club has ever put together, so it’s time for Maccabi Tel-Aviv to put up or shut up on the grandest stage in football – but first, they have to win their playoff tie. The first leg will be at Old Trafford on August 18, with the return fixture taking place at the Jan Breydel Stadium on August 26.
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Of the other ties, Italian team Lazio and German side Bayer Leverkusen captures the imagination, while Spain meets France as Valencia take on Monaco.
Ronny Deila’s team were one of five seeded teams in the UEFA-devised champions route of the draw, having beaten Azerbaijan champions Qarabag 1-0 on aggregate in the third qualifying round and Icelandic champions Stjarnan in the second round of qualifying.
United were seeded for the draw, and avoided Monaco, Lazio and CSKA Moscow.
“We are very confident that our coach’s pressing style will see us do well in the competition”.
Club Brugge won the Belgian Pro League last season and booked their place in the Champions League play offs with a 4-2 victory over Panathinaikos on Wednesday night.
The winners of the Champions League and Europa League play-off rounds will progress to the group stages of their respective competitions.
United forward Adnan Januzaj and midfielder Marouane Feilaini are both Belgium internationals.
Serie A outfit Lazio would also be tough prospect, while they would not relish a lengthy trip Russian capital to face CSKA Moscow.
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Scottish champions Celtic will play Swedish side Malmo, with the first game to be played in Glasgow.
