David Beckham sustained his infamous metatarsal injury against Depor in April. (AlexLivesey/Allsport)

Premiership title holders Arsenal also know they will have to tackle Italian outfit Roma, while Bobby Robson's Newcastle, fresh from their last-gasp victory over Feyenoord last night, can prepare themselves for a trip to Milan after learning they will be paired with either AC or Inter, in addition to a top side from Spain.

With four teams from Spain and Italy advancing to the last 16, one club from each country must be placed in each second phase group.

Because United, winners in 1999, have been placed in a pot with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia and therefore cannot be drawn against those teams, Deportivo, runners-up to AC Milan in Group G, have to provide the opposition.

The pair met four times in last year's competition, with Deportivo coming out on top twice in the opening group phase, only for Sir Alex Ferguson's side to gain revenge by dumping out the Spaniards at the quarter-final stage

Conversely, Arsenal must face Roma because they have been placed in the same pot as AC Milan, Inter and Juventus, one of whom will definitely face United, while the Gunners will take on a Spanish group winner.

Newcastle have been placed in Pot Four and because clubs from the same country cannot meet each other at this stage of the competition, both Arsenal and United must face one of Lokomotiv Moscow, Ajax and FC Basle, who have already eliminated Liverpool and Celtic from the competition so far this season.

The Magpies cannot take on Group E rivals Juventus again and because the Italian side are in the same pot as Arsenal, it only leaves AC Milan and city rivals Inter as possible Italian opponents.