Today, on August 31, the official draw ceremony for the 2023/2024 Champions League group stage took place, bringing Manchester United back into the limelight.

After a year-long hiatus, Manchester United has returned to the grand stage of world football – the Champions League. As the draw for Group C1 unfolds tonight (August 31) at 11:00 PM, the spotlight remains firmly on Manchester United, capturing the attention of both fans and competitors alike.

Placed in Group 2, Manchester United finds itself among football powerhouses including Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Porto, RB Leipzig, Inter Milan, and Arsenal. The regulations dictate that clubs from the same nation cannot end up in the same group, ensuring that Manchester United avoids a clash with their fierce rival, Manchester City.

Nonetheless, this doesn’t necessarily exempt Ten Hag’s squad from potentially landing in the infamous “group of death.” In Group 3, formidable opponents await, with AC Milan standing out as a significant contender. Under the leadership of Coach Stefano Pioli, the team continues to gain strength, bolstered by players like Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez. AC Milan’s upward trajectory is evidenced by their impressive journey to the Champions League semi-finals last season, narrowly losing to their city rivals, Inter Milan. This season, AC Milan is asserting its dominance at the summit of Serie A.

In an unfortunate turn of events, Manchester United might find themselves in a group of death alongside the likes of Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, and AC Milan. While fans of the Manchester team in red half may hope to avoid such a scenario, the team is facing a challenging transfer window and being placed in a group of death could prove to be an arduous test.