Champions League draw countdown part 5

16 days to go

In the run up to the UEFA Champions League group stage draw on August 27 in Monaco, we will preview one of United's possible opponents each day.

Juventus

Most of you will be familiar with these Italian giants - the most successful club in Italian history - but what you might not know is where they play.

The Old Lady of Turin, as they are sometimes known, are temporarily housed at 27,500-capacity Stadio Grand Torino, named after the famous 1940s Torino team who tragically died in a plane crash.

Strangely, the black and whites used to play at this stadium from the mid 1930s until the Stadio delle Alpi, which holds 69,000 opened for the 1990 World Cup.

But that ground is undergoing a renovation and won't be open until 2011, so fans travelling for Champions League games this year will find themselves at the Stadio Grand Torino.

On one hand, that means a much smaller allocation for away fans, possibly of 2,000 or so, but on the other, it makes for a much better atmosphere in a tightly packed stadium – and its location is central rather than right on the edge of town, Reebok Stadium style.



Unfortunately, the city itself doesn't come highly recommended.

One of my friends describes it as “a smaller version of Milan – only with even less to do. There's only one Irish/English pub, called the Huntsmen and it's e5 a pint.” but that verdict seems a little cruel.

After all, Turin is regarded as a cultural centre of Northern Italy and, most notably, boasts The Shroud of Turin.

Ways to get there (prices are approximate and return)

London Gatwick to Turin on British Airways for £140
London Luton to Turin on easyJet for £140
London Stansted to Turin on Ryanair for £140

Manchester to Milan Bergamo on Ryanair for £45
Bristol to Milan Bergamo on Ryanair for £20
London Luton to Milan Bergamo on Ryanair for £50
London Stansted to Milan Bergamo on Ryanair for £80

then an hour-long bus to Milan Centrale for £12 and a two-hour train for £13

Manchester to Milan Malpensa on Flybe for £170
Bristol to Milan Malpensa on easyJet for £60
London Luton to Milan Malpensa on easyJet for £80
London Gatwick to Milan Malpensa on easyJet and AirBaltic for £90
London Heathrow to Milan Malpensa on British Airways £120
Edinburgh to Milan Malpensa on easyJet, germanwings and Flybe for £125

then a two-hour train for £13

London Gatwick to Milan Linate on easyJet for £120
London Heathrow to Milan Linate on British Airways for £280

then a two-hour train for £13

London Gatwick to Genoa n British Airways for £120 then a two-hour train for £18

Liverpool to Pisa on Ryanair for £60
Manchester to Pisa on jet2.com and Thomson Flights for £250
Birmingham to Pisa on Ryanair for £90
East Midlands to Pisa on Ryanair for £145
Edinburgh to Pisa on Ryanair and Jet2.com for £150
Bristol to Pisa on easyJet £160
London Stansted to Pisa on Ryanair for £180
London Gatwick to Pisa on easyJet, British Airways and Thomson Flights for £205

then a four-hour train for £50

London Stansted to Lyon on easyJet for £50
London Gatwick to Lyon on easyJet for £50

then a four-hour train for £60

Liverpool to Geneva on easyJet for £45
Manchester to Geneva on easyJet, Swiss Air, Jet2.com and bmi baby for £50
Birmingham to Geneva on easyJet and bmibaby for £45
East Midlands to Geneva on easyJet and bmibaby for £45
Bristol to Geneva on easyJet for £50
Newcastle to Geneva on easyJet for £60
Edinburgh to Geneva on easyJet for £50
London Gatwick to Geneva on easyJet, British Airways and airBaltic for £45
London Stansted to Geneva on easyJet for £55
London Luton to Geneva on easyJet for £50

then a five-hour train for £100

Liverpool to Treviso on Ryanair for £77
London Stansted to Treviso on Ryanair for £100

then a nine-hour train for £70

By coach
National Express (Eurolines) run coaches between Manchester Chorlton Street and Turin, with changes at London Victoria and Paris for £96 return. It's a 28-hour journey each way.

By direct train
For about £150, you can go from Manchester Piccadilly through to Turin, with changes in London for the Eurostar, Paris for a sleeper train and Milan for Turin. Leaving Manchester at noon on a Monday would get you there at 09:00 the next morning.

By car
Driving would cost about £360 in petrol and take 15 hours each way without a break. It's 942 miles each way.

Fun factor: 7/10
Safety factor: 8/10
Bargain factor: 6/10
Convenience factor: 8/10
Score: 29/40