Manchester United’s best and worst possible Champions League opponents revealed ahead of today’s draw

MANCHESTER UNITED are ready to return to the big stage in the Champions League this year.

Jose Mourinho masterminded a Europa League triumph last season to place United back among the giants of world football.

And the Portuguese will find out his fate on at 5pm when the group stage draw takes place.

As a second-seed team, United could face one of Europe's powerhouses as early as the group stage.

The full draw will be finalised after matches on Tuesday and Wednesday, with Liverpool and Celtic among the teams who will learn their fate.

As a result, they cannot face: Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City, Porto or Napoli.

It is also impossible for teams of the same domestic league to meet in the group stage, so United will not face any of Chelsea (pot 1), Tottenham (pot 2 or 3, depending on results) or Liverpool if they qualify.

WHO CAN MANCHESTER UNITED FACE?

Despite being unable to play the likes of Barcelona and PSG, there are still a number of top teams United could face.

United, and all the other teams from pot 2, face one side from each of the remaining pots.

And teams from pot 1 - made up of league winners from the top seven nations (based on Uefa country coefficients) - pose the biggest threat.

United could face holders Real Madrid, Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich or last year's finalists Juventus.

Also in pot 1 are Benfica, Monaco, Spartak Moscow and Shaktar Donetsk.

From pot 3, United could face the likes of  Basel, Anderlecht, Roma or Besiktas

Feyenoord are confirmed to be in pot 4 so can face United.

German upstarts RB Leipzig will be in pot 4.

What is Manchester United's best and worst possible Champions League draw?

Best possible draw: Spartak Moscow, Manchester United, Anderlecht, Qarabag

Worst possible draw: Real Madrid, Manchester United, Napoli, RB Leipzig