Man Utd potential Champions League opponents become clearer as play-off teams confirmed
Man Utd have found out their play-off round opponents.
Manchester United are now one step closer to knowing who they could face in the Champions League group stage, with the play-off teams confirmed.
The qualifying rounds and preliminary round have been ongoing throughout the tail-end of pre-season and the beginning of the 2023/24 campaign.
On Tuesday, the third qualifying round was completed - with the winners progressing to the final two-legged play-off stage to determine which sides reach the group stage.
United are making a return to the Champions League at the group stage, having missed out on playing in the competition entirely last term.
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Their strong UEFA coefficient, meanwhile, means they have been placed in pot two of four - meaning they will avoid drawing the likes of Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund in the group stage.
They will also avoid facing Atletico Madrid - the team that knocked Ralf Rangnick's side out of the competition at the round of 16 stage in the 2021/22 season.
But they can draw any of the play-off teams, who will be placed in pots three or four.
Who Man Utd could face in Champions League as play-off teams confirmed
Among the highest-profile entrants to the play-off round are Scottish giants Rangers, who defeated Swiss side Servette over two legs.
They will take on PSV Eindhoven, while Galatasaray and Braga have also qualified.
Here is the full list of 2023/24 Champions League play-off round fixtures:
Champions Path
- Maccabi Haifa vs Young Boys
- Antwerp vs Winners of Match 3*
- Rakow Czestochowa vs Copenhagen
- Molde vs Galatasaray
League Path
- Rangers vs PSV Eindhoven
- Braga vs Panathinaikos
The second leg of the third qualifying round match between Dinamo Zagreb and AEK Athens is the only fixture yet to be played.
The match was postponed after an AEK Athens supporter was stabbed and killed during brawls between rival fans on the evening prior to the game in the Greek capital. Police confirmed that eight others were injured.
The group stage draw for the 2023/24 Champions League will take place on August 31 in Monaco, France at 5pm UK time.
Topics: Champions League, Manchester United, UEFA, Premier League
Ryan Smart