The 20 teams bidding to join Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Borussia Mönchengladbach have discovered who they will play in the playoffs. Full listings are below, but here are three ties that you might want to keep an eye on:
Champions League draw results: Manchester United take on Club Brugge, Valencia get Monaco
Manchester United get a kind draw, but Valencia face Monaco and Bayer Leverkusen take on Lazio in tricky playoff ties.
Celtic vs. Malmö FF
Unusual for the playoff rounds, these two teams have a bit of history in this competition, as the 1967 winners take on the 1979 finalists. Whoever gets through is unlikely to have the same effect this time around, but this should still be an interesting game. Malmo were tricky opponents in last season’s groups stage, while Celtic could really do with some Champions League excitement to spice up their season.
Lazio vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Lazio were the non-seeded side to avoid, and Manchester United and Valencia's gain is Bayer Leverkusen's loss. Rome's other team nearly secured automatic qualification last season, eventually finishing just one point behind their nearest and dearest rival, AS Roma. They've managed to hang on to most of their players and have one of Europe's smartest kits. But the Germans are a decent side, as well: they made the knockout stages of last season's Champions League, and Atletico Madrid needed penalties to get past them. It should be a close contest.
Valencia vs. Monaco
Last season, both these teams amounted to something of a surprise package. Valencia bloodied a few noses in La Liga, beating both Madrid teams at home, while Monaco made it through their Champions League group and then embarrassed Arsenal in the Round of 16. However, while Valencia have managed to hang on to most of their players, the principality has endured another summer of turnover. Could be the tie of the round; could be a one-sided hammering.
Full fixtures
Champions route
Astana vs. APOEL
Skënderbeu vs. Dinamo Zagreb
Celtic vs. Malmö FF
Basel vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv
BATE Borisov vs. Partizan
League route
Lazio vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Manchester United vs. Club Brugge
Sporting CP vs. CSKA Moscow
Rapid Vienna vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
Valencia vs. Monaco
Games will be played on 18-19 August, with the reverse fixtures on 25-26 August.
See More:
