On September 20, Manchester United will kick off their UEFA Champions League campaign with what is arguably the most challenging fixture of the group stage. Erik ten Hag’s team is set to face off against the reigning German champions, Bayern Munich, at their home ground, the Allianz Arena.

This match is the highlight of matchday one, with another exciting fixture being AC Milan vs. Newcastle. Bayern Munich will be highly motivated for this encounter, and they have the added firepower of former Manchester United transfer targets Harry Kane and Kim Min-Jae in their squad.

For Erik ten Hag, this match holds special significance as it marks a return to familiar territory. The Manchester United manager honed his coaching skills with Bayern Munich’s reserve team during Pep Guardiola’s tenure as the Bundesliga’s dominant force.

On paper, this is undoubtedly the toughest test Manchester United could have faced to start their Champions League campaign. FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray are the other two teams in their group. Ten Hag’s squad will need to be fully prepared right from the first whistle and overcome their historical struggles in away matches against top-tier opponents. Bayern Munich is considered one of the favorites to win the Champions League this season, while Manchester United is in the midst of a rebuilding phase under their manager. As such, not many United fans may expect a victory in this match.

However, a strong and positive performance that demonstrates Manchester United’s presence and competitiveness at this elite level, after several years away from the Champions League spotlight, would be warmly welcomed by the supporters. Interestingly, Manchester United’s group stage journey will both begin and end with matches against Bayern Munich, with the matchday six fixture taking place at Old Trafford, this time against Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern side.