Manchester United will open their Europa League group stage with a home tie against FC Astana, but will kick-off their away match against the Kazakhstan side at the earlier time of 3:50pm that could see a number of fans miss out on the match.
United return to the second tier of European competition after being drawn in Group L, putting them up against FC Astana, Partizan Belgrade and AZ Alkmaar.
While the draw is not the most difficult one they could have faced, the travel required will impose its own challenge on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad, given the round-trip to Nur-Sultan in Kazakhstan to take on Astana will rack up 7,400 miles alone.
Once United have got their group stage underway against Astana, they will face away trips to Alkmaar and Partizan Belgrade, before returning to Old Trafford to host the Serbian side in the second of their double-header.
But their matchday five encounter against Astana will not only see United embark on a 7,400-mile round-trip to Kazakhstan, but kick-off at 4:50pm CET (9:50pm local time), meaning the match will start mid-afternoon for fans unable to travel to the fixture.
1/33 Champions League Group Stage Power Rankings
All 32 teams ranked from those with the worst chances of winning it all to those with the best.
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2/33 32. Club Brugges
Squeaked past Champions League minnows LASK in qualifying. Likely to find it difficult on this, the biggest stage.
Getty
3/33 31. Dinamo Zagreb
Passionately supported, but it is tough to forecast a Croatia 2018 style fairytale run.
AFP/Getty Images
4/33 30. Slavia Prague
Beat Cluj to win their place in the group stage and made life difficult for Chelsea in the Europa League last season.
Getty
5/33 29. Olympiacos
Stormed past FC Krasnodar in the Play-off round, but that might be the height of their Champions League efforts this season
AFP/Getty Images
6/33 28. Genk
Surprise Belgian champions last season, but may struggle to step up. Gheorghe Hagi never won the Champions League as a player, but I doubt son Ianis will right his father’s wrongs in his first season in Belgium.
AFP/Getty Images
7/33 27. Lokomotiv Moscow
Some canny additions with plenty of European experience to complement a strong Russian base, but not enough top-end quality to predict progression.
Getty Images
8/33 26. Galatasaray
Jean Michael Seri and Ryan Babel have joined the Turkish champions, which bodes well after Fulham’s efforts last season, even if Babel was something of a find. Europa League a realistic target.
AFP/Getty Images
9/33 25. Red Star Belgrade
The Serbian side will be bothersome at home, and have just installed a tank outside their ground for extra intimidation points, as they were last year, when they beat Liverpool. Lack true forward quality, though.
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10/33 24. FC Salzburg
Austrian champions in each of the last six seasons, which counts for something. Not much, mind you, hence the low ranking.
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11/33 23. Atalanta
Punched well above their weight as the surprise Serie A packages last season, but they may struggle more at this level.
Getty Images
12/33 22. Shakhtar Donetsk
A faded force from the heady Uefa Cup winning days, but they remain an entertaining Brazilian/Ukranian ying and yang. They’ll have at least one 5-4 result, or something along those lines.
AFP/Getty Images
13/33 21. Benfica
Benfica remain extremely talented despite the departure of Joao Felix, but the hardened centre that is required for Champions League success isn’t quite there.
AFP/Getty Images
14/33 20. Lille
An odd mishmash of forgotten faces (Jose Fonte, Loic Remy) and potential stars (Timothy Weah, Renato Sanches, Jonathan Bamba) but that might be to their detriment. Boom or bust.
AFP/Getty Images
15/33 19. Zenit St Petersburg
Ever a tricky trip, Zenit have a sneakily fun squad.
Malcom will look to rebound from his torrid time at Barcelona.
Getty Images
16/33 18. Valencia
Europa League semi-finalists after dropping down last season, the squad is a coherent one with experience. Round of 16 likely if they get a friendly group draw.
Bongarts/Getty Images
17/33 17. Lyon
More impressive in the Champions League than Ligue 1 last season, in many ways. Gone are Tanguy Ndombele, Ferland Mendy and Nabil Fekir, however – a tough ask to replace such quality.
AFP/Getty Images
18/33 16. Bayer Leverkusen
They’ve lost Julian Brandt, but in Jonathan Tah, Leon Bailey and particularly Kai Havertz possess some of the best young talent in Germany. They’ll be in the Round of 16 mix.
Bongarts/Getty Images
19/33 15. Chelsea
Untested manager, untested squad, and lost their only true attacking difference-maker in the summer. The Champions League could go very, very badly for Chelsea.
AFP/Getty Images
20/33 14. Ajax
Last year’s semi-finalists, although they were made to sweat in qualifying this time around, and have lost star players Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt.
AFP/Getty Images
21/33 13. Napoli
Dark horses part one.
Kostas Manolas and Kalidou Koulibaly might be the best centre-half pairing in the competition, and they have plenty of attacking resources from which to draw.
AFP/Getty Images
22/33 12. RB Leipzig
Dark horses part two.
The installation of Julian Naglesmann as manager will further stimulate a squad that, if it clicks, can cause serious damage.
AFP/Getty Images
23/33 11. Inter Milan
Antonio Conte is a shrewd appointment who will drill his side well defensively, and Romelu Lukaku is a proven goalscorer, scoff as you might. Diego Godin could be talismanic.
Getty Images
24/33 10. Tottenham Hotspur
Calm yourselves, Spurs fans, but it is hard not to forecast a regression to something resembling the mean.
Rode their luck a bit last time out all the way to the final, and already flirting with a soft implosion. They may yet turn it around, of course.
Getty Images
25/33 9. Atletico Madrid
Probably not Atletico’s year given the summer talent drain, but Diego Simeone’s ability to grind out wins cannot be fully discounted.
Getty Images
26/33 8. Bayern Munich
Interesting defensive additions, but probably another year or two away from re-assembling themselves for another proper tilt for the crown.
Bongarts/Getty Images
27/33 7. Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund above Bayern? Yep!
Lucien Favre is putting something special together. The re-signing of Mats Hummels shores up an inexperienced defence.
Bongarts/Getty Images
28/33 6. PSG
Neymar leaving could be a blessing in disguise, should he indeed depart for Barcelona, with the forward line’s roles better clarified and Kylian Mbappe fulfilling his destiny as a super-club’s key player.
AFP/Getty Images
29/33 5. Real Madrid
It could all come tumbling down in Madrid this year, but do not rule out Zinedine Zidane cobbling together a meaningful Champions League run from a squad that has plenty of pure talent.
AFP/Getty Images
30/33 4. Juventus
The Ronaldo project worked, to some extent, in year one, and Juventus are making the right moves to improve the team around him and properly contend in the Champions League this year. Matthijs De Ligt’s development will be fun to watch, though Maurizio Sarri’s rigidity may hinder the Italians.
AFP/Getty Images
31/33 3. Liverpool
Right in the mix, again. Jurgen Klopp’s side are possibly due a slightly less successful campaign, though, and an injury drastically alters the appearance of such a settled lineup in key areas.
Getty Images
32/33 2. Barcelona
Lionel Messi wants another Champions League. That should be reason enough to rank Barcelona this highly, even after their recent misfires. Antoine Griezmann has arrived, Neymar may be on his way, Frenkie De Jong is the best young player in Europe – this might just be the Catalans’ year.
Getty Images
33/33 1. Manchester City
Pep Guardiola’s City tenure will not feel fully complete without taking them to the top of the Champions League mountain, and they are shaping as favourites, with squad depth, consistency and an ability to rip teams apart in four or five different ways.
Getty Images
1/33 Champions League Group Stage Power Rankings
All 32 teams ranked from those with the worst chances of winning it all to those with the best.
Getty Images
2/33 32. Club Brugges
Squeaked past Champions League minnows LASK in qualifying. Likely to find it difficult on this, the biggest stage.
Getty
3/33 31. Dinamo Zagreb
Passionately supported, but it is tough to forecast a Croatia 2018 style fairytale run.
AFP/Getty Images
4/33 30. Slavia Prague
Beat Cluj to win their place in the group stage and made life difficult for Chelsea in the Europa League last season.
Getty
5/33 29. Olympiacos
Stormed past FC Krasnodar in the Play-off round, but that might be the height of their Champions League efforts this season
AFP/Getty Images
6/33 28. Genk
Surprise Belgian champions last season, but may struggle to step up. Gheorghe Hagi never won the Champions League as a player, but I doubt son Ianis will right his father’s wrongs in his first season in Belgium.
AFP/Getty Images
7/33 27. Lokomotiv Moscow
Some canny additions with plenty of European experience to complement a strong Russian base, but not enough top-end quality to predict progression.
Getty Images
8/33 26. Galatasaray
Jean Michael Seri and Ryan Babel have joined the Turkish champions, which bodes well after Fulham’s efforts last season, even if Babel was something of a find. Europa League a realistic target.
AFP/Getty Images
9/33 25. Red Star Belgrade
The Serbian side will be bothersome at home, and have just installed a tank outside their ground for extra intimidation points, as they were last year, when they beat Liverpool. Lack true forward quality, though.
Getty Images
10/33 24. FC Salzburg
Austrian champions in each of the last six seasons, which counts for something. Not much, mind you, hence the low ranking.
Getty Images
11/33 23. Atalanta
Punched well above their weight as the surprise Serie A packages last season, but they may struggle more at this level.
Getty Images
12/33 22. Shakhtar Donetsk
A faded force from the heady Uefa Cup winning days, but they remain an entertaining Brazilian/Ukranian ying and yang. They’ll have at least one 5-4 result, or something along those lines.
AFP/Getty Images
13/33 21. Benfica
Benfica remain extremely talented despite the departure of Joao Felix, but the hardened centre that is required for Champions League success isn’t quite there.
AFP/Getty Images
14/33 20. Lille
An odd mishmash of forgotten faces (Jose Fonte, Loic Remy) and potential stars (Timothy Weah, Renato Sanches, Jonathan Bamba) but that might be to their detriment. Boom or bust.
AFP/Getty Images
15/33 19. Zenit St Petersburg
Ever a tricky trip, Zenit have a sneakily fun squad.
Malcom will look to rebound from his torrid time at Barcelona.
Getty Images
16/33 18. Valencia
Europa League semi-finalists after dropping down last season, the squad is a coherent one with experience. Round of 16 likely if they get a friendly group draw.
Bongarts/Getty Images
17/33 17. Lyon
More impressive in the Champions League than Ligue 1 last season, in many ways. Gone are Tanguy Ndombele, Ferland Mendy and Nabil Fekir, however – a tough ask to replace such quality.
AFP/Getty Images
18/33 16. Bayer Leverkusen
They’ve lost Julian Brandt, but in Jonathan Tah, Leon Bailey and particularly Kai Havertz possess some of the best young talent in Germany. They’ll be in the Round of 16 mix.
Bongarts/Getty Images
19/33 15. Chelsea
Untested manager, untested squad, and lost their only true attacking difference-maker in the summer. The Champions League could go very, very badly for Chelsea.
AFP/Getty Images
20/33 14. Ajax
Last year’s semi-finalists, although they were made to sweat in qualifying this time around, and have lost star players Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt.
AFP/Getty Images
21/33 13. Napoli
Dark horses part one.
Kostas Manolas and Kalidou Koulibaly might be the best centre-half pairing in the competition, and they have plenty of attacking resources from which to draw.
AFP/Getty Images
22/33 12. RB Leipzig
Dark horses part two.
The installation of Julian Naglesmann as manager will further stimulate a squad that, if it clicks, can cause serious damage.
AFP/Getty Images
23/33 11. Inter Milan
Antonio Conte is a shrewd appointment who will drill his side well defensively, and Romelu Lukaku is a proven goalscorer, scoff as you might. Diego Godin could be talismanic.
Getty Images
24/33 10. Tottenham Hotspur
Calm yourselves, Spurs fans, but it is hard not to forecast a regression to something resembling the mean.
Rode their luck a bit last time out all the way to the final, and already flirting with a soft implosion. They may yet turn it around, of course.
Getty Images
25/33 9. Atletico Madrid
Probably not Atletico’s year given the summer talent drain, but Diego Simeone’s ability to grind out wins cannot be fully discounted.
Getty Images
26/33 8. Bayern Munich
Interesting defensive additions, but probably another year or two away from re-assembling themselves for another proper tilt for the crown.
Bongarts/Getty Images
27/33 7. Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund above Bayern? Yep!
Lucien Favre is putting something special together. The re-signing of Mats Hummels shores up an inexperienced defence.
Bongarts/Getty Images
28/33 6. PSG
Neymar leaving could be a blessing in disguise, should he indeed depart for Barcelona, with the forward line’s roles better clarified and Kylian Mbappe fulfilling his destiny as a super-club’s key player.
AFP/Getty Images
29/33 5. Real Madrid
It could all come tumbling down in Madrid this year, but do not rule out Zinedine Zidane cobbling together a meaningful Champions League run from a squad that has plenty of pure talent.
AFP/Getty Images
30/33 4. Juventus
The Ronaldo project worked, to some extent, in year one, and Juventus are making the right moves to improve the team around him and properly contend in the Champions League this year. Matthijs De Ligt’s development will be fun to watch, though Maurizio Sarri’s rigidity may hinder the Italians.
AFP/Getty Images
31/33 3. Liverpool
Right in the mix, again. Jurgen Klopp’s side are possibly due a slightly less successful campaign, though, and an injury drastically alters the appearance of such a settled lineup in key areas.
Getty Images
32/33 2. Barcelona
Lionel Messi wants another Champions League. That should be reason enough to rank Barcelona this highly, even after their recent misfires. Antoine Griezmann has arrived, Neymar may be on his way, Frenkie De Jong is the best young player in Europe – this might just be the Catalans’ year.
Getty Images
33/33 1. Manchester City
Pep Guardiola’s City tenure will not feel fully complete without taking them to the top of the Champions League mountain, and they are shaping as favourites, with squad depth, consistency and an ability to rip teams apart in four or five different ways.
Getty Images
It means a number risk missing television coverage of the match as they will still be at work, with the time difference between Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom requiring the match to commit to the earlier start time.
United wrap up their campaign at home as Alkmaar travel to Manchester.
Manchester United Europa League fixtures
All times BST/GMT
19 September: Manchester United vs FC Astana, 8pm
3 October: AZ Alkmaar vs Manchester United, 5:55pm
24 October: Partizan Belgrade vs Manchester United, 5:55pm
7 November: Manchester United vs Partizan Belgrade, 8pm
28 November: FC Astana vs Manchester United, 3:50pm
12 December: Manchester United vs AZ Alkmaar, 8pm
