Celtic and Villarreal in United's sights

UEFA Champions League holders Manchester United FC will begin their trophy defence in Group E with a home game against Villarreal CF and have also been paired with Celtic FC and Denmark's Aalborg BK after the group stage draw was made at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on Thursday.

Rome target
The 32 teams were split into eight sections of four with last season's runners-up Chelsea FC drawn alongside AS Roma, who are hoping to reach the final in their home city, FC Girondins de Bordeaux and Romanian newcomers CFR 1907 Cluj in Group A. UEFA Cup holders FC Zenit St. Petersburg face a tough first foray into the competition after being placed in Group H with Real Madrid CF, Juventus and fellow new boys FC BATE Borisov, the first Belarussian side to qualify for the group stage.

Fixture schedule
The group stage fixtures will be played on 16/17 September, 30 September/1 October, 21/22 October, 4/5 November, 25/26 November and 9/10 December – see the full schedule by clicking here. The group winners and runners-up will progress to the first knockout round in the spring, with the final to be staged at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on 27 May 2009. Teams finishing third in each section will have the consolation of going into the UEFA Cup Round of 32.