United to Face Debrecen or Hadjuk Split

By David Hobbs
July 29 2005

Manchester United face the obstacle of either Debrecen or Hadjuk Split in the Champions League third qualifying round after the draw was made in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday afternoon.

Ruud van Nistelrooy has reiterated his intentions to stay at Old Trafford despite tempting links to La Liga giants Barcelona and Real

Debrecen lead 3-0 after the first leg that took place on Wednesday night, but Red Devils secretary Ken Ramsden believes it could be either club United face. The first leg will take place 9/10 August while the second leg is on either 23/24 August.

"It could be either club. We don't take anything for granted but it's a real step into the unknown - there's so much uncertainty," he claimed. "Debrecen have told us if they got a big team they would move the game to Budapest.

"It would be a big stage and a big pitch - but we will play where we are sent.

"We really wanted Shelbourne but that was unlikely."

Meanwhile, Everton and Liverpool avoided each other as the Toffees will face the tough task of overcoming Diego Forlan's impressive Villarreal squad and the Reds take on KF Tirana or CSKA Sofia if they beat Kaunas at Anfield.

Full Champions league 3rd Round Draw:

Basel v Werder Bremen
Artmedia Bratislava Celtic v Partizan Belgrade / Sheriff Tiraspol
Shakhtar Donetsk v Inter Milan Shelbourne / Steaua Bucuresti v Rosenborg
Manchester United v Debrecen / Hajduk Split
Malmv FF / Maccabi Haifa v Dynamo Kiev / FC Thun
Everton v Villarreal
FBK Kaunas / Liverpool v Dinamo Tirana / CSKA Sofia
Sporting v Udinese
Valerenga / FC Haka v Club Brugge
F91 Dudelange / Rapid Vienna v Rabotnicki Kometal / Lokomotiv Moscow
Anderlecht / Neftchi v Slavia Prague
Anorthosis Famagusta / Trabzonspor v Rangers
Dinamo Tbilisi / Brondby IF v Ajax
Real Betis v Monaco
Wisla Kraksw v Panathinaikos

David Hobbs - Webmaster
[david@manutdweb.com]