PSV Eindhoven's kind inclusion in Pot 1 of the draw proved more of a curse than a blessing, as Manchester United followed the Dutch club out of Pot 2, a tough trip to CSKA Moscow came out of Pot 3, and then the most feared team from the supposedly weaker pot: Wolfsburg.

United has got to be happy with this draw. After a one-year absence from the competition, the first time since the 1995-96 campaign, the Red Devils ran the risk of a tough group after being excluded from the top-seeded teams.

United was instead first plunked into a group with PSV, marking an early return for Memphis Depay to the club that he was bought from in the summer. Louis van Gaal should have a head start in his pre-game preparations too, after recent stints managing AZ Alkmaar and the Dutch national team.

The Philips Stadion outfit should not be taken lightly though, and the Red Devils' defense will have to keep tabs on striker Luuk de Jong, whose free-scoring campaign last season helped lead his team to the Eredivisie title.

CSKA Moscow is never seen as a weak link in a Champions League draw. Not only does the Russian side boast one of the most consistent goalkeepers in the last decade of European football in Igor Akinfeev, and a considerable goalscoring threat from its midfielders Roman Eremenko and Bibras Natkho, but its a trip that racks up the air miles. Some 2000 of them.

Still, the Russian side faces a tough challenge against the first two teams out of the pots, and also in German side Wolfsburg.

Although Wolfsburg seems likely to be weakened over the next few days with the departure of Kevin De Bruyne to Manchester City, the fantastically named Dutchman Bas Dost is one of the most feared strikers in Europe after his debut Bundesliga campaign yielded 16 goals.

Also, after adding Max Kruse from Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer for €12 million, Wolfsburg hopes to have compiled quite the attacking threat, even in the absence of De Bruyne.

Predicted finish

1. Manchester United
2. Wolfsburg
3. CSKA Moscow
4. PSV Eindhoven