United and Rangers to face off in Champions League
Manchester United and Rangers have been drawn together in Group C of the Champions League at today’s draw in Monaco.
That means a return to Glasgow for Red Devils boss and Govan native Alex Ferguson, while Gers boss Walter Smith will be making a return to Old Trafford, having briefly worked as Ferguson’s assistant prior to his stint in charge of Scotland.
Spanish side Valencia and Turkey’s Bursaspor make up the group.
United and Rangers were drawn together at the same stage in 2003-04 with United winning 3-0 at home and 1-0 at Ibrox.
Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham, who secured their first appearance in the Champions League group stage with yesterday’s 4-0 win over Young Boys, were rewarded with a place in a tough-looking Group A alongside Italian holders Inter Milan, Germany’s Werder Bremen and Steve McClaren’s former club FC Twente.
Chelsea, among the top seeds, were matched with France’s Marseille, Russia’s Spartak Moscow and Slovakia’s MSK Zilina in Group F.
Arsenal, meanwhile, appeared to have the most straightforward assignment of all the British clubs after drawing Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, Braga of Portugal and Serbian outfit Partizan Belgrade in Group H.
Group A: Inter Milan, Werder Bremen, Tottenham FC, Twente
Group B: Lyon, Benfica, Schalke 04, Hapoel Tel-Aviv
Group C: Manchester United, Valencia, Rangers, Bursaspor
Group D: Barcelona, Panathinaikos, FC Copenhagen, Rubin Kazan
Group E: Bayern Munich, Roma, Basle, CFR Cluj’Napoci
Group F: Chelsea, Marseille, Spartak Moscow, MSK Zilina
Group G: AC Milan, Real Mardid, Ajax, Auxerre
Group H: Arsenal, Shakhtar Donestsk, Braga FK, Partizan
First round of fixtures will be played on September 14 and 15, 2010
