Source: Daily_Mail
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW: Sportsmail's guide to who Arsenal and Celtic will hope to avoid in Nyon
Arsenal and Celtic will learn on Friday who stands between them and a place in the Champions League group stage - and it could be each other.
The two British giants face a stinker of a draw for the play-off round in Nyon following UEFA's decision to revamp the qualifying this season.
In the past just the top two from last season's Barclays Premier League went straight into the group stage. This year Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea all qualify directly, but the trade-off is that the draw is made tougher for fourth-place Arsenal.
Georgios Samaras
Bhoys to men: Georgios Samaras celebrates scoring for Celtic against Dynamo Moscow to send Celtic into the draw for the Champions League play-off round
Scottish champions Rangers also go straight into the group stage, whereas Celtic have had to overcome Dynamo Moscow in the third qualifying round.
There are two 'routes', so 10 champions from minor nations can only draw each other, while the 10 non-champions from better leagues have to battle it out.
It is complicated further by each route of 10 being split into five seeded and five unseeded teams. What you need to know is that Arsenal can face Fiorentina, Atletico Madrid, Celtic, Anderlecht or Timisoara. Celtic's possible opponents are Arsenal, Lyon, Sporting Lisbon, Panathinaikos or Stuttgart.
It's not pretty for either side, but the losers from the play-off round go straight into the group stage of the Europa League, which has replaced the UEFA Cup.
Sportsmail profile's Arsenal and Celtic's potential opponents, pointing out who they want to avoid...
The five hoping to outgun the Gunners
Fiorentina
Last season: 4th in the Italian league.
Nickname: La Viola (purple).
Stadium: Stadio Artemio Franchi, 47,282 capacity.
Wish you were here? The stadium dates back to the Thirties and, despite being upgraded for Italia 90, is hardly a thing of beauty. Much of it is uncovered, so pray for good weather. But you could never tire of Florence's treasures, with architectural treasures dating back to the Renaissance. Went out at the Champions League group stage last year and would expect to be in it again.
Danger man: Adrian Mutu would love to show his worth against an English side after the way he was sacked by Chelsea for failing a drug test in 2004. Scored 14 in 21 last season.
Banana skin rating: 7/10
Atletico Madrid
Last season: 4th in the Spanish league.
Nickname: Los Colchoneros (The mattress makers).
Stadium: Vicente Calderon, 54,851 capacity.
Wish you were here? In many ways they wish they were in north London and will model their next stadium on the Emirates. Madrid is one of the most magical capital cities in Europe, though it's not quite the costas as a venue for drinking jugs of Sangria. Atleti shared two 1-1 draws with Liverpool last season and made the last 16.
Sergio Aguero
Earning his stripes: Sergio Aguero scores against Paris Saint-Germain in the Emirates Cup
Danger man: Sergio Aguero, who with former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan forms one of the most lethal forward lines in Europe. Argentina star Aguero is called a 'next Maradona' and really is quite good, which has attracted interest from United and Chelsea this summer.
Banana skin rating: 8/10
Aiden McGeady
Star man: Aiden McGeady
Celtic
Last season: 2nd in the Scottish Premier League.
Nickname: The Bhoys, among others.
Stadium: Celtic Park, 60,837 capacity.
Wish you were here? Parkhead has one of the most intimidating match-day atmospheres in world football and Celtic seemed almost unbeatable there until Dynamo Moscow did them there last month. The city itself is the real heart of Scotland rather than the poncy capital Edinburgh.
Danger man: Republic of Ireland forward Aiden McGeady is easily good enough to play in a stronger lead and his head being turned is a factor in his slight dip in form. But he'll be determined to put on a show against someone like Arsenal.
Banana skin rating: 8/10
Anderlecht
Anderlecht's Jelle Van Damme
Uncompromising: Anderlecht's Jelle van Damme (foreground)
Last season: 2nd in the Belgian league.
Nickname: Paars-wit (purple and white).
Stadium: Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, 21,619 capacity.
Wish you were here? Brussels has friendly locals and great beer (though beware the really strong stuff) even if Belgium has a reputation for being dull. The Anderlecht district isn't so hot, but you'd settle for the trip rather than a tough trip elsewhere. The club are no Standard Liege, who have given Everton and Liverpool problems recently.
Danger man: Jelle van Damme is a solid centre-back who will be difficult for Arsenal's talented forward line to break down.
Banana skin rating: 5/10
Politehnica Timisoara
Last season: 2nd in the Romanian league.
Nickname: Er, pass.
Stadium: Comprest GIM, 600 capacity - so champions League matches are played at the 32,000-capacity Stadionul Dan Paltinisanu, home to rivals FC Timisoara.
FC Timisoara's players celebrates
Eastern promise: Timisoara's players celebrates scoring against Shakhtar Donetsk
Wish you were here? Romania's second city is like a large town, called 'Little Venice'. It's no Venice and is actually rather industrial. The team are the major surprise package in the hat having beaten overcome UEFA Cup holders Shakhtar Donetsk over two legs. Little-known, but last season they finished above CFR Cluj, who beat Roma and drew with Chelsea in the last edition of the Champions League.
Danger man: Gheorghe Bucur is a Romania international who helped the country to Euro 2008. The pacey, dimutive striker caused Shakhtar problems, scoring one and making the other for the 2-2 draw in Donetsk.
Banana skin rating: 3/10
The five sorting the men from the Bhoys
Andrey Arshavin (foreground) and Eduardo da Silva
Red hot: Andrey Arshavin (foreground) and Eduardo da Silva
Arsenal
Last season: 4th in the Barclays Premier League.
Nickname: The Gunners.
Stadium: Emirates Stadium, 47,282 capacity.
Wish you were here? Great city, great stadium, with quiet enough fans for the visitors to control the atmosphere. Then again, Celtic do that everywhere. The downside is that Arsenal are probably the strongest club in the hat and have top seeding to show for. Champions League semi-finalists last year.
Danger man: Expect Andrey Arshavin to be itching to make an impression after being cup-tied from Arsenal's Champions League games last season following his transfer from Zenit St Petersburg. Sublime Russia forward.
Banana skin rating: 9/10
Lyon
Last season: 3rd in the French league.
Nickname: Les Gomes (The Kids).
Stadium: Stade Gerland, 41,044 capacity.
Wish you were here? Gorgeous French city, historically known as the silk capital of the world. The team have spent big and have a point to prove too this season after giving up the French League title following seven consecutive crowns. Strong in the Champions League last season before falling to Barcelona in the last 16.
Bafetimbi Gomis
New boy: Bafetimbi Gomis signs on at Lyon from Saint-Etienne
Danger man: It's been a big-spending summer and Lisandro Lopez is probably the pick of the new recruits. The £24m signing from Porto has big shoes to fill in the shape of Karim Benzema, who left for Real Madrid, but the Argentina striker can be lethal.
Banana skin rating: 8/10
Sporting Lisbon
Last season: 2nd in the Portuguese league.
Nickname: Leoes (The Lions).
Stadium: Estadio Jose Alvalade, 50,080 capacity.
Wish you were here? An impressive stadium, built for Euro 2008, but the real attraction of Lisbon for Celtic fans is the emotion of the 1967 European Cup Final and the victory over Inter Milan at Benfica's Stadium of Light. Sporting have plenty of internationals and familiar faces and will be tricky for anyone.
Danger man: Plenty to choose from, including Felipe Caicedo on loan from Manchester City, and new signing Matias Fernandez is one to keep an eye on. The Chile international, brought in from Villarreal is a silky-skilled attacking midfielder.
Banana skin rating: 7/10
Panathinaikos
Last season: 2nd in the Greek league.
Nickname: Trifylli (Shamrock).
Stadium: Olympic Stadium, 71,030 capacity.
Wish you were here? The stadium dates back to 1979 but was thouroughly renovated for the Athens Games. Great place for a city break with its iconic parthenon and acropolis - and there's the odd Irish pub too. Some way behind Olympiakos last season, but impressed in Europe, topping their Champions League group ahead of Inter Milan before falling to Villarreal in the last 16.
anathinaikos' players
Czech-mate: Panathinaikos players celebrate on their way to beating Sparta Prague in Athens
Danger man: Former Arsenal favourite Gilberto Silva is still solid in midfield and Djibril Cisse will want to start with a bang after leaving Marseille via a loan spell at Sunderland.
Banana skin rating: 7/10
Stuttgart
Last season: 3rd in the German league.
Nickname: Die Roten (The Reds).
Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Arena, 55,896 capacity.
Alexander Hleb
Glad to be back: Stuttgart's Alexander Hleb
Wish you were here? A luxury stadium, as the name suggests, though the stands are annoyingly distant from the pitch thanks to a running track. The large city is a rather dull business-oriented place that boastfully describes itself as 'The new heart of Europe'. Rangers beat them a couple of years ago, but they have strengthened well this summer, bringing in impressive Russia striker Pavel Pogrebnyak and...
Danger man: Alexander Hleb is delighted to be back at the club he left for Arsenal in 2005. The Belarus international is still a handful down the left or behind the strikers.
Banana skin rating: 7/10
