Holders Manchester United will face familiar foes Celtic in this season's Champions League group stage.

United, who beat Chelsea on penalties to lift the European Cup for the third time last May, were also drawn on Thursday with Villarreal of Spain and Champions League debutants AaB Aalborg of Denmark in their opening matches in Group E.

Chelsea will face AS Roma of Italy, Girondins Bordeaux of France and Romanian debutants CFR Cluj in their opening games in Group A.

European giants Real Madrid and Juventus were drawn together in Group H along with UEFA Cup holders Zenit St Petersburg and BATE Borisov of Belarus, who are both playing in the competition for the first time.

The competition proper starts on Sept 16-17 with the final in Rome next May.

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