ESPN FC - Brilliant Champions League draw for Napoli
Mar 18Watch Cristiano Ronaldo’s first live televised Manchester United appearance exclusively on BT Sport!
The Red Devils take on Young Boys in the Champions League on Tuesday, with coverage available from 5pm on BT Sport 2HD.
It all feels a bit surreal still, doesn’t it?
After 12 years away, Cristiano Ronaldo is back on British shores after a stunning blockbuster summer move from Juventus back to Manchester United.
The 36-year-old’s arrival prompted record-breaking shirt sales over the last few days with fans clamouring to get hold of a United kit adorned with the iconic ‘7’ squad number gifted to Ronaldo by new team-mate Edinson Cavani.
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But unless you were one of the lucky few inside Old Trafford watching on as a two-goal Ronaldo helped put Newcastle United to the sword over the weekend, you won't yet have seen the Portuguese superstar in action live during his second stint in Manchester.
Fear not however, as BT Sport will bring you exclusive coverage of his first live televised appearance in the famous red on Tuesday night as Swiss side Young Boys host United in a must-see Champions League Matchday 1 opener.
Our coverage starts at 5pm on BT Sport 2HD, as the world's greatest club competition gets back underway!
Is there a more fitting stage for such an occasion?
Over the course of his astonishing career, Ronaldo has virtually become synonymous with his beloved Champions League tournament, breaking records with every passing season.
The former Real Madrid man is currently the all-time top Champions League goalscorer (134), the top scorer in a single Champions League season (17 in 2013/14), the only player to score in three Champions League finals and the only player to score in 11 straight Champions League games.
However, one record will be eating away at the Portuguese talisman as he stands one behind Madrid legend Francisco Gento (6) in the list of players to have won the most European Cup or Champions League trophies.
134
Champions League goals
Priced at 9/1 to conquer this year’s tournament and claim a fourth European Cup win, Man Utd look to be just outside the favourites to reach the finale in St Petersburg next summer.
Paris Saint-Germain, buoyed by the arrival of Ronaldo’s familiar foe Lionel Messi, currently sit 10/3 favourites with the oddsmakers, slightly ahead of Man City (7/2), Bayern Munich (7/1) and defending champions Chelsea (7/1).
Drawn in a potentially testing group alongside Young Boys, Atalanta and Villarreal – against whom United were defeated in last year’s Europa League final – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side will have to hit the ground running on Matchday 1 to ensure they do not exit the tournament at the group stage for a second year running.
With Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho also joining Ronaldo at United over the course of a busy summer of recruitment, the pressure will be on Solskjaer to prove he can delivery in Europe’s top club competition.
The 48-year-old’s record in the Champions League has been uninspiring to date, winning just four of his 10 games in charge at United, while keeping only one clean sheet.
They have good history against Young Boys however, winning in both their previous meetings against the Bern based team courtesy of a 3-0 away win and a 1-0 home victory back in 2018/19.
Can Ronaldo inspire United to a third straight victory over their Swiss hosts? BT Sport is the only place to find out!
Ronaldo’s televised return is just one of several brilliant storylines set to unfold across a bumper midweek round of European football exclusively live on BT Sport.
Check out our preview of the notable games taking place across Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League in our Matchday 1 preview here.
