Manchester United will face the Belgian side Club Brugge in the Champions League play-off round, while Celtic have been drawn to play the Swedish champions, Malmo.

Club Brugge finished second in Belgium’s top flight last season and will be looking to reach the group stage for the first time since 2005-06. They defeated Panathinaikos 4-2 in the third qualifying round but on paper would appear to be a preferable draw to Lazio, Monaco or CSKA Moscow, whom Louis van Gaal’s side could also have faced.

Van Gaal, who faced Club Brugge during his second spell with Barcelona and played in Belgium for Antwerp for four years, said: “It will be nice to go back to Belgium, I have good memories of my time playing there for Antwerp.

“In fact my debut for Antwerp was against Club Brugge and during my time as manager at Barcelona we played them in the group stages. Over two legs we have to be confident against any team. We are determined to progress in the competition.”

Celtic will feel contented, too, that they have avoided potential trips to Kazakhstan or Albania, instead facing a relatively straightforward journey to Sweden. But last year’s group stage contenders Malmo, who overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit to beat Red Bull Salzburg 3-2 on aggregate in the third qualifying round, will prove a difficult hurdle for Ronny Deila’s side.

Both British clubs will play at home in the first legs, which will take place on Tuesday 18 August or Wednesday 19 August. The return fixtures are scheduled for Tuesday 25 August or Wednesday 26 August.

The draw in full

Astana v Apoel Nicosia

Skenderbeu v Dinamo Zagreb

Celtic v Malmo

Basel v Maccabi Tel-Aviv

BATE v Partizan Belgrade

Lazio v Bayer Leverkusen

Manchester United v Club Brugge

Sporting v CSKA Moscow

Rapid Vienna v Shakhtar Donetsk

Valencia v Monaco