Teams Manchester United Want to Avoid in Champions League Group Stage Draw

With the draw for the Champions League group stages fast approaching, now is as good a time as any to rule the roost over Manchester United's potential opponents.

More than any season, this draw will be stacked full of dangerous teams in the second, third and even fourth pots.

The Red Devils will be desperate to avoid the dreaded 'Group of Death'.

Here are six teams United boss David Moyes will be keen to avoid when the draw is made in Monaco on August 29.

Atletico Madrid

Despite the exit of Radamel Falcao this summer, Atletico Madrid remain worthy opposition.

Managed by the able Diego Simeone, Los Colchoneros are arguably the No.3 side in Spain behind Barcelona and Real Madrid.

David Villa leads an attacking line that also includes Arda Turan and Diego Costa.

They have already claimed a strong 3-1 win at Sevilla, a 5-0 thrashing of Rayo Vallecano in the league, and a deserved 1-1 draw with Barcelona in the Copa del Rey.

Paris Saint-Germain

One team Manchester United will certainly want to avoid is money-bags Paris Saint-Germain.

The nouveau riche club has brought in immense talent this summer in the shape of striker Edinson Cavani and Marquinhos to add to an immensely deep squad.

PSG's domestic success last season proved that money can buy success.

New manager Laurent Blanc will have a lot to do to live up to previous boss Carlo Ancelotti, but he has the tools at his disposal to match any in Europe.

Juventus

Italian champions Juventus are a regular threat to go deep in Europe's premier club competition.

Antonio Conte has one of the best midfields in football at his disposal in Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba.

United may have a good recent record against teams from Serie A, but the Bianconeri know how to win.

They will surely be the strongest side outside the top eight in Pot 1.

Ajax Amsterdam

Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam regularly turn out some of the best young talents in football.

The club's current crop from its academy is headlined by the exceptional playmaker Christian Eriksen and winger Viktor Fischer.

The Amsterdam Arena is always a tricky place to come for opposing teams, its atmosphere trumping most across the continent.

Manager Frank de Boer has a team worthy of reaching the knockout rounds and going deep in the tournament.

Borussia Dortmund

Despite having to sell star young playmaker Mario Gotze this summer, Borussia Dortmund remain one of the strongest sides in Europe.

The hipster club deservedly reached the final of last season's competition, but will not find themselves in Pot 1 for the group stage draw next month.

Gotze has been replaced by the impossible-to-pronounce Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Shakhtar Donetsk, while pacy forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has also been added to the squad.

Manager Jurgen Klopp is one of the brightest minds in the game, and will have Dortmund firing this season.

Napoli

Also in one of the lesser pots will be Serie A side Napoli.

Manager Rafa Benitez has become a sort of adversary for the Red Devils in recent seasons, and this will continue if the two clubs were to be drawn together.

The Blues have an incredibly strong team headlined by the likes of Marek Hamsik, Gonzalo Higuain and new recruit Pepe Reina.

Like the other clubs on this list, drawing Napoli would be bad news for United.