Manchester United get their European campaign underway on Thursday night, when they travel to Rotterdam to face Feyenoord in their first Europa League group game.
United have a perfect record against the Dutch side, having only faced them twice. This was back in the 1997-98 season, where the Reds beat them home and away in the group stage.
However, the Feyenoord of today are a different proposition to the side of yesteryear. Having gone through financial problems in the late 2000s to the early part of this decade, the Rotterdam side are on the up again and with former Arsenal man Giovanni van Bronckhorst in charge, they finished third in the Eredivisie last season.
This season, they have picked up where they left off, winning five games on the trot to start the season and they currently sit top of the Eredivisie, two points clear of reigning champions PSV Eindhoven.
Feyenoord will certainly provide stern opposition at De Kuip and José Mourinho’s side will have to be at their best if they want to get their Europa League campaign off to the greatest possible start.
Ahead of kick-off, we look at the dangermen who could pose problems for United:
Dirk Kuyt
The former Liverpool man will be no stranger to United fans, who have all seen what he was capable of doing when he played for United’s most fierce rivals. At the age of 36, he now plays in the hole for Feyenoord and he still looks like a real threat.
Having scored 23 goals in all competitions last season, he’s started this season where he left off, scoring three goals in the first five games of the season.
Nicolai Jorgensen
Jorgensen (in foreground) joined Feyenoord from Danish side Copenhagen this summer for €3.5 million and has started well for his new club, scoring three times in his first five games.
The Danish international is a striker that can create as well as finish his chances and United will have to keep their eye on him at all times on Thursday night.
Steven Berghuis
Berghuis, who can play in the number ten role as well as on the wings, joined Feyenoord on loan for Watford, where he was used sparingly last season.
Berghuis is a tricky winger who is quick and loves to take on his man and beat him inside out. Matteo Darmian and Timothy Fosu-Mensah will be tasked with dealing with the 24-year-old and they will have to keep him quiet if United want a clean sheet.
Tonny Vilhena
Vilhena will be a familiar name to Football Manager players after being listed as a wonderkid in earlier editions of the game and true to form, he has developed into a fine player at Feyenoord.
The 21-year-old was all set to leave De Kuip this summer until a sudden U-turn saw him sign a new contract with the club and he will be a real threat for United in midfield on Thursday night.
Vilhena is your archetypical box-to-box midfielder, reliable in defence and blessed with a terrific engine, great passing range and wonderful set piece ability. It will be fascinating to see him and Paul Pogba duke it out on Thursday.