2017-18 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE kick-off!
THE ROAD TO KIEV STARTS HERE!
United last won the UCL with a penalty shootout victory over Chelsea back in 2008!
United were the first English club to be crowned champions of Europe in 1968!
Boss Mourinho has won the UCL twice – once with Porto and once with Inter Milan! The £89m price tag doesn’t seem quite so hefty now – he's on fire! The Armenian's creativity will be vital against Europe's finest! The 19-year-old takes everything in his stride and will love the UCL!
Neuer, Alaba, Ribery, Muller, Rafinha and Robben all won the UCL with Bayern in 2013!
Carlo Ancelotti has won this comp five times – twice as a player and three times as a boss!
Bayern faced Dortmund in an all-german final in 2013 – the only time it's ever happened! The prolific Pole has netted 40 goals in 61 UCL appearances! Barca will always regret letting this defence-splitter leave! Billed as the new Philip Lahm, he weighs in with goals and assists!
In Drinkwater and Cahill, they have just two English first teamers – fewest of any Prem team!
They’re the only UCL holders to go out in the group stages the following campaign – 2012-13!
They didn’t make their first appearance until 1999 – but have been involved 13 times since! His ability to make things happen will be crucial in the big games! The young Danish defender is showing he's got what it takes! This Samba star loves bagging sick free-kicks at key moments!
Their triumph in 1985 made them the first club to win all three major UEFA club comps!
Despite winning 22 trophies, Gianluigi Buffon has never won the UCL and has lost three finals!
Mario Mandzukic won UEFA’S 2017 Goal of the Season with his epic strike in last term’s final! He’s bagged tons in Serie A and has years of UCL experience! The France star has strengthened an already solid central midfield! Dybala has started the season on fire – he wants the Golden Boot!
The Reds have been European champions more than any other English team!
Jurgen Klopp led Dortmund to the UCL final in 2013 – but they lost 2-1 to Bayern at Wembley!
Group stage opponents Sevilla beat The Reds 3-1 in the Europa League final in 2016! The Senegalese speedster has taken his game to the next level! The Samba star needs to get the Liverpool fans back on board! The perfect goalscoring supersub for a team to have up their sleeve!
• City reached the semis two years ago – apart from that, they’ve never gone beyond the last 16! • Man. City manager Pep Guardiola won the UCL twice, when he was manager of Barcelona! • City’s home games will be played at the Etihad – it's been their ground since 2003! KDB conjures up assists at the drop of a hat – capable of magic! The 20-year-old's finishing and movement can be vital for City! His pace and trickery can cause carnage against tired legs!
Their one final appearance came against a Porto team led by Jose Mourinho in 2004!
They're Euro giant now, but their Stade Louis ground has the smallest capacity in the UCL!
Last season they put an end to PSG’S domination of four Ligue 1 titles in a row! The Colombian has started this season like he finished the last! Keeping hold of this solid midfield enforcer was crucial for Monaco! Showcased his two-footed ability in the Europa League last season!
• Tottenham have won three Euro trophies – the UEFA Cup (twice) and the Cup Winners' Cup! • In 2010-11, Spurs became the first team to net two or more goals in every UCL group game! • Tottenham won just one of their Champions League matches at Wembley last season – eek! England’s No.9 can prove to Europe that he's the real deal! Dele’s link-up play with Kane is always mesmerising to watch! The deadline day signing from Swansea has elite Euro pedigree!