Mauricio Pochettino’s team given one of the toughest groups, but they will have to relish the chance to take on Europe’s best

Tottenham Hotspur have been drawn alongside Champions League winners Real Madrid and recent finalists Borussia Dortmund in the group stages of Europe’s elite competition this evening.

Spurs were placed in pot three, so were always set for a tricky draw and it proved to be the case.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men will compete in Group H and do battle with the holders, Dortmund and Apoel.

The draw means Gareth Bale and Luka Modric will go up against their old club having moved to Spain from White Hart Lane in the summer of 2013 and 2012 respectively.

Spurs haven’t faced Madrid since competing in the Champions League during the 2010/11 campaign.

Tottenham ended up losing 5-0 on aggregate overall to the Spanish outfit and can expect another tough test with the current holders this time around.

Pochettino has gone head-to-head with Dortmund much more recently, but didn’t get the better of the German club.

Under the management of Jurgen Klopp, the Black and Yellow knocked Spurs out of the 2015/16 Europa League after winning 5-1 on aggregate, so that is set to be another tricky match up.

Tottenham will also take on Cypriot outfit Apoel, which is undoubtedly the easiest tie in the group for the north Londoners.

While it is more difficult than Spurs would have liked, the progress they have made in recent years will have the squad believing they can make their mark in this season’s competition.

Most of the Tottenham players have another 12 months of European experience now and will look to show that during this group stage.

Meanwhile for Spurs supporters, they can look forward to trips to the Bernabeu and Westfalenstadion.

It may be a hard group, but Tottenham will be aiming to make this Champions League campaign a memorable one.