Cristiano Ronaldo set for Old Trafford return as United draw Juventus in Champions League group stages

Cristiano Ronaldo will return to Old Trafford with new club Juventus in this season’s Champions League group stages, in a game henceforth known as the Patrice Evra Derby. Manchester United have been drawn in a group with the Italian giants, as well as Spanish side Valencia and Switzerland’s Young Boys. Stop laughing at the back. It’s not expected to be a cakewalk for José Mourinho’s men, though things certainly could’ve been worse.

Liverpool, for example, have been drawn in a nightmarish group containing Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli, while Spurs will have the tricky task of progressing ahead of two of Barcelona, PSV Eindhoven and Inter Milan. Annoyingly, Manchester City have things a little easier: they’ve been drawn alongside Shakhtar Donetsk, Lyon and Hoffenheim.

Other intriguing draws see Atlético Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Monaco all facing off in Group A, while Roma and CSKA Moscow will be hoping to cause problems for defending champions Real Madrid in Group G.

The first group stage matches take place in the week commencing 17 September.