HOLDERS UNITED FAMILIAR FOES FOR CELTIC

Nakamura stunned United back in 2006.

Celtic will face holders Manchester United in the Champions League group stages for the second time in three seasons following today's draw in Monaco.

The Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions were placed in Group E, which also contains Spanish side Villarreal and Danish club Aalborg.

Celtic met United competitively for the first time in 2006-07, avenging a 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford with a 1-0 victory at Parkhead.

Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura starred in both matches, scoring a stunning winner in the second game.

Villarreal will also be familiar opponents for Celtic fans, the Spaniards beating the Hoops 3-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup in 2004.

They also ended Rangers' dreams of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals in 2006 with an away-goals success in their last-16 clash.

Danish champions Aalborg, meanwhile, ultimately profited from Rangers' failure to reach this season's group phase.

They beat Lithuanian side FBK Kaunas, who shocked Walter Smith's men in the previous qualifying round.

Celtic are bidding to reach the knockout stage of the competition for the third straight season.

Striker Scott McDonald insisted they were confident of progressing, no matter the opposition.

"We went into the draw full of confidence anyway," he told Sky Sports News.

"Our home form's very good, it's just our away form that's been really poor in recent years in Europe.

"If we can try and get that right this year, that would go a long way to getting through to the next round."

McDonald believes it is a good omen that Celtic have drawn United and a Danish team in the same group.

"I think we always love to draw the champions of Europe as we did last year," he said.

"I think there's a few similarities from the last time we had Man United. I believe we also had a Danish team [Copenhagen] that time round.

"Hopefully, all these things add up to good things and get us through to the next round again."

As for the United games, he added: "They're going to be fantastic games, obviously.

"Two teams, Scotland and England, the rivalry already. In recent years, we played against them and we got a victory over them once and they beat us at their ground as well.

"It all bodes well for a great atmosphere and great game as well and hopefully we can give that to the public."

McDonald is currently nursing a groin tear which will almost definitely rule him out of Sunday's first Old Firm derby of the season.

But he believes he will be ready for the big European kick-off.

"I'm very confident of being fit and ready for that. I think the Rangers game comes just a couple of days too early for myself," said McDonald, who hopes to join Australia on international duty next week.

"I should be fighting fit and ready to go the week before the Champions League starts.

"I want to get my foot in the door and get back in the team but when you get out of the team here, it's always difficult to get back in."

McDonald accepts United are favourites to top the group, making the games against Villarreal crucial to Celtic's hopes.

"They're massive. I think the Aalborg games are, too," he said.

"Most games we go into, we're probably underdogs. There will probably be a bit of added pressure in the Aalborg ties.

"Villarreal, you would look at it on paper as the more difficult of the two."

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell was thrilled at the prospect of facing Manchester United again and sees no reason why the Scottish champions cannot progress to the knockout stages for a third successive campaign.

He told Scotland Today: "At this level, it's a formidable task to qualify but I think we've got a good chance. If we qualify three years running, it would be a remarkable achievement and I do genuinely believe we have a chance to do that.

"Overall, we are delighted. In Manchester United, we again welcome the European champions to Celtic Park. We know them well and we have a good relationship with the club.

"We remember the two epics we played two years ago at Old Trafford and the dramatic circumstances of the victory at Celtic Park. They were two great nights so we are really looking forward to it."

He added: "First and foremost, we are in this because it's the best football competition in the world and it's a privilege to be a part of that. The financials run alongside and are really important.

"But the privilege, the profile, the exposure that playing in this tournament gives you around the world is fantastic."

Lawwell refused to be drawn on whether Celtic manager Gordon Strachan will be allowed to strengthen his squad further before next week's transfer deadline.

"We are working on things," he said. "Time is obviously ticking again us but who knows?"