Manchester United and Rangers in same group

Manchester United face a Battle of Britain in their quest to win the Champions League after being drawn against Rangers as they enter their eighth successive top-flight European campaign.

The Barclaycard Premiership champions will take on their counterparts from Scotland after Alex McCleish’s side won their two-legged qualifier against Copenhagen following a 2-1 victory in Denmark last night.

Alex Ferguson’s side have also been pitted against Panathinaikos in Group E after the draw in Monaco this afternoon.

United, who famously lifted the trophy for the second time in their history after a last-gasp victory against Bayern Munich in 1999, will be confident they can progress to the newly-created second stage which, in contrast to previous years, will now be a straight knock-out competition.