NYON, AP:

Manchester United's route back to the Champions League groups after a one-year absence must go through Bruges in the playoff round.

"It will be an interesting tie," United coach Louis van Gaal said after yesterday's draw.

"Bruges are a good side. They reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League and finished second in the Belgian League last season."

Ten winners will advance to the 32-team group-stage draw on August 27 in Monaco.

United returns to Europe's top club competition after a one-season gap, which was its first since 1995-96.

A fourth-place Premier League finish in van Gaal's first season in England sent the club into the Champions League qualifying stages for the first time since 2005.

Bruges earned a play-off by beating Panathinaikos 4-2 on aggregate in the third qualifying round.

Coached by former Belgium goalkeeper Michel Preud'homme, Bruges has current and historic form in UEFA competitions. It was a beaten finalist against Liverpool in the 1978 European Cup when only national champions entered.

The reward for advancing is a €12 million (US$13.1 million) prize money bonus from UEFA for being in the group stage, plus €2 million for winning the play-off.

UEFA has increased Champions League prize money by 33 per cent this season, and will share more than €1.2 billion among the 32 group-stage clubs.

Play-off losers this month are compensated with €3 million and a place in the Europa League groups, which guarantees a €2.4 million bonus.