Cristiano Ronaldo will head back to Old Trafford after Manchester United were drawn in Champions League Group H with Italian champions Juventus.
Aside from Ronaldo and Juventus providing a difficult challenge, United should face easier rides against Valencia and Young Boys, who return to the group stages this year.
However Ronaldo’s reunion can’t be dismissed as the 33-year-old tries to win the Champions League for a fourth year in a row.
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Cristiano Ronaldo will head to Old Trafford to face Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United
The pressure is only increasing on manager Jose Mourinho as United, after a poor start to the Premier League season, face Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford.
The ties against Juventus are going to be marquee occasions, especially because of the match-up between Mourinho and Ronaldo, who joined the Italian club from Real Madrid for £100million in the summer.
They may share the same super agent in Jorge Mendes but the pair had a fraught relationship when Mourinho managed Real.
Former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel said: ‘Juventus is probably the hardest team to play against in Europe right now because of the signing of Ronaldo. Everyone sees them as rebuilding the whole Italian football scene again.’
The Champions League trophy was on display in Monaco as the draw was made
The Champions League draw for this season was held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco
Elsewhere, history beckons for Manchester City and Pep Guardiola after they were handed the easiest of Champions League draws in Monaco last night.
City, who have made an unbeaten start to the defence of their title, want to make a serious challenge in Europe after underachieving for a number of seasons considering their wealth of talent.
A group involving Shakhtar Donetsk, Lyon and Hoffenheim gives them the best possible chance of progressing to the knockout stages without too much fuss.
It is also an encouraging omen for Guardiola’s European ambitions that they are in Group F, with 40 per cent of Champions League winners — six out of the last 15 — emerging from that group since 2004.
In contrast the three other English teams received difficult draws. Tottenham, who face Barcelona, PSV Eindhoven and Inter Milan in Group B, look like they will be playing most of their home games at Wembley with their new ground not expected to open until December.
UEFA have warned that Tottenham may have to play at Wembley throughout the tournament. Deputy secretary-general Giorgio Marchetti said: ‘In principle the regulations state that you have to play in a single stadium but we will have to see.’
Ander Herrera shared a picture of him and Manchester United team mates watching the draw
A spokesman for Inter Milan said: ‘We would probably prefer to play at Wembley because of its history. It would be a nice occasion, but we are happy to play at their new stadium.’
Last season’s finalists Liverpool also have a difficult group to negotiate against Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli and Red Star Belgrade.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: ‘PSG are one of the most exciting teams in the world and I think their target is to win the Champions League, so that will be two interesting matches.
‘We beat Napoli in pre-season but it goes without saying these two games will be completely different challenges.
‘Red Star, I watched them come through in qualifying, and it will be again a very very intense atmosphere. Last season is last season and now we have to do it again.’
Meanwhile. Liverpool’s Mo Salah seemed remarkably unperturbed when Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos tapped him on the shoulder he dislocated after tangling with the Spanish defender in the final last May.
Ramos was returning to his seat behind Salah after receiving his trophy for being UEFA’s defender of the season.
Real Madrid celebrate winning the Champions League after beating Juventus in May