Players check into hotel ahead of their UCL Play-Off game

Ahead of the crucial first leg of their UEFA Champions League game against Club Brugge, Manchester United players were pictured checking into their hotel.

Louis van Gaal's boys arrived at the five-star Lowry Hotel as they prepared making a return to Europe's elite club competition following a one-season absence.

United are in high spirit ahead of the game after their 100% start to the season.

They won both of their games with a lone goal against Tottenham on the opening day and Aston Villa on match day two.

The second leg will be played at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Belgium on Wednesday August 26.

The winner of the tie will qualify for the group stages due to kick off in mid-September.

Van Gaal said Manchester United are feeling the pressure ahead of the game.

"There is a lot of pressure because our aim and goal is to reach the Champions League," Van Gaal told a news conference on Monday.

"These kind of matches are difficult. Bruges can defend very well and they can also attack."

United, European Cup champions three times, will be without England defender Phil Jones because of what the manager described as "not an injury, more of an illness, and it is getting better".

Watch highlights of Uunited's win against Aston Villa, below: