Harry Kane is ready to haunt Man United after they were drawn against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
United pulled out of the race to sign Kane this summer, after deciding his fee and wages were too expensive. This left the way clear for Bayern to land him for £100million. The England captain has got off to a flier for Bayern, scoring three goals in his first two Bundesliga appearances. It is anticipated he will relish taking that red-hot form to face United in Europe.
While Kane, 30, has been slotting in the goals for Bayern, United’s £72m new striker Rasmus Hojlund, who they turned to instead, has yet to make his debut having joined with an injury. United were drawn in Group A, alongside German champions Bayern, Copenhagen and Galatasaray, in what could prove a testing group on their return to the competition.
Newcastle, back in the Champions League after 20 years, were drawn in the ‘Group of Death’ alongside Paris St Germain, Borussia Dortmund and seven-time winners AC Milan. Holders Manchester City were handed a favourable draw in Group G, where they will face RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys.
Arsenal, making their first Champions League appearance in seven years, will be content with their opponents. They were drawn in Group B with Sevilla, PSV Eindhoven and Lens.
United’s clash with Bayern will evoke memories of their dramatic Champions League final win over the Germans in 1999, where they scored twice in added time to clinch the Treble. The Red Devils return to Istanbul to face Galatasaray, 30 years on from their hostile first meeting with the Turkish champions, famous for the “Welcome to Hell” banner that greeted them.
Sir Alex Ferguson and his players came under siege after the final whistle, following Eric Cantona’s late red card, which sparked clashes between United’s players and Turkish riot police. United faced Galatasaray – who signed Wilfried Zaha and Hakim Ziyech this summer – again the following season and again in 2012, Ferguson’s last Champions League campaign.
That year a Michael Carrick goal was enough to give United a 1-0 win at Old Trafford. By the time the return game came around, they were already qualified as group winners and went down by the same scoreline in Turkey.