Champions League draw announced

Champions League title holders Manchester United will face Celtic in the group stages.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side, who beat Premier League rivals Chelsea in the final in Moscow in May, were joined by Spanish side Villarreal and Danish club Aalborg in Group E after the draw in Monaco.

The trip to Spain to play Villarreal will bring back bad memories for England striker Wayne Rooney, who was sent off playing against the same club in September 2005.

Glasgow giants Celtic, who are aiming to reach the knockout stage of the competition for the third straight season, will also be wary of Villarreal after the Spaniards beat them in the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup in 2004.

Runners-up Chelsea have been drawn in Group A along with Italian giants Roma, French side Bordeaux and Romanian club Cluj.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's team will look to go one better than last season when they were beaten on penalties by United.

Arsenal have been drawn in Group G with Porto, Fenerbahce and Dynamo Kiev.

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres faces an emotional return to former club Atletico Madrid after the Anfield outfit were drawn in Group D along with PSV Eindhoven and Marseille.

Former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, now in charge at Inter Milan, sees his side up against Werder Bremen, Panathinaikos and Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta in Group B.

Spanish giants Barcelona were drawn in a relatively easy Group C along with Sporting Lisbon, Basle and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Lyon are joined by Bayern Munich, Steaua Bucharest and Fiorentina in Group F.

Spanish champions Real Madrid will face Juventus, UEFA Cup winners Zenit St Petersburg and Bate Borisov in Group H.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.

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