As European opponents go, the name of Juventus could barely be more evocative.

“The Old Lady of Turin” is one of the most famous football clubs in the world, and while the current side may  not be hitting the heights of their predecessors, they are certain to pose a stern test for the Blues over the course of both forthcoming games.

The two clubs met in the same competition – then the UEFA Cup – in 1976/77. Back then, Dino Zoff, Franco Causio, Marco Tardelli and Roberto Bettega all strutted their stuff at Maine Road but it was Brian Kidd’s header that saw the first leg go City’s way. The powerful Italian side, many of whom would decimate England in a World Cup qualifier a few weeks later, overturned City in the Stadio Comunale a fortnight later and eventually won the competition that season.

Juve’s list of managers reads like a who’s who of Italian football, with Giovanni Trappatoni, Fabio Capello and Claudio Ranieri among those who have taken the reins. Roberto Mancini played them on many occasions, and Patrick Vieira had a one-year stint with them after leaving Arsenal.

Lech Poznan qualified for this season’s Champions League after securing their sixth Polish league title, but dropped into the Europa League after losing to Sparta Prague. They earned their passage into the group stage with a narrow win over Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. Their home ground, Stadion Miejski, is being upgraded ahead of hosting games at the 2012 European Championships.

Red Bull Salzburg are so-named after the drinks company bought the Austria Salzburg club in 2005. They have subsequently won the Austrian Bundesliga three times, to go with the club’s three title wins under the old name. Former City coach Hans Backe was once in charge at Austria Salzburg, as was Giovanni Trapattoni, and they are now managed by Dutchman Huub Stevens.

They move into the Europa League after being knocked out of the Champions League at the play-off stage by Hapoel Tel Aviv.