Champions Real up against Dortmund and Spurs in group stage

Manchester United will fancy their chances of advancing beyond the group stages on their return to the Champions League after a favourable draw in Monaco.

There is rarely a tiresome moment at Napoli under Maurizio Sarri although, despite rapid-fire starts to both legs, they were exposed clinically by Real Madrid in last season’s round of 16.

The group stages of the competition begin on 12-13 September.

The full draw is as follows… Manchester United will face Benfica, FC Basel and CSKA Moscow who are all teams United is decidely better than.

Should Bayern Munich, ranked fourth, come out of the hat it would leave Sarri and his men at risk of also drawing Barcelona or Atletico Madrid.

Group C – Chelsea (ENG), Atlético Madrid (ESP), Roma (ITA), Qarabag (AZE).

The qualifying rounds for the UEFA Champions League group stage concluded on Wednesday evening, confirming the 32 teams that will go into this evening’s draw.

Photo Dortmund and Real Madrid once again landed in the same group in the Champions League draw.

Real Madrid head top-seeded clubs as the two-time defending champion, and fourth straight Champions League victor from Spain.

When is the Champions League final?

Well, it’s the start of a new Champions League season.

With pot two loaded with quality sides, including Barca, Atletico, PSG, Manchester City and Manchester United, there could be some very strong groups.

They will also be playing home games at wembley as they did without success last season.

Celtic could await n pot four, but Bundesliga runners-up RB Leipzig would be much tougher opposition.

Basel have won the Swiss league seven times in a row and this season make their eighth group stage appearance. The final saw Sir Alex Ferguson’s United defeat Avram Grant’s Chelsea on penalties.

According to UEFA rules, clubs from the same national associations can’t be drawn in the same group.