Instead, Ronaldo had to be content with a place on the bench, where he was joined by captain Roy Keane, who has still not fully recovered from the ankle injury he suffered in the victory at The Valley.

In Keane’s absence, Ryan Giggs was handed the captain’s armband as the Red Devils set out to improve on a record which has seen them qualify for the last eight a record seven times on the trot.

Mikael Silvestre and 1999 European Cup final-winning hero Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were brought back into Ferguson’s side, with Phil Neville expected to move into central midfield and partner Nicky Butt.

Having never lost at home to a Greek side and facing opposition which has never won in England, United were expected to start their Group E campaign with a resounding victory.

But the visitors did have two familiar faces eager to spoil the party.

Silvio Maric hardly set the world alight during an ill-fated 18-month stint with Newcastle.

But former Burnley striker Dimitrios Papadopoulos looked more of a threat, having already struck three goals in the Greeks’ three-match winning start to the domestic season.