Chelsea will play Sevilla, Krasnodar and Stade Rennes in this season’s Champions League group stage E following today’s draw in Switzerland.
Frank Lampard’s talented side will hope to improve on their last 16 showing last season, with trips to Spain, Russia and France now on the cards.
The Blues, who won the competition in 2012 by defeating current champions Bayern Munich on penalties at their own stadium, were eliminated last term by the Bavarians before the last eight.
There was no shame in exiting the tournament to Hansi Flick’s superb side, but now pressure is higher after the club splashed more than £200m this summer to bring in the likes of Kai Havertz and Timo Werner.
Valencia beat out the Blues to top spot on the head-to-head rule in last season’s competition, with Ajax a point back in third and missing out with Lille bottom and only earning one point.
Champions League group stage draw 20/21
A: Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, FC Salzburg, Lokomotiv Moscow
B: Real Madrid, Shakhtar, Inter Milan, Borussia Monchengladbach
C: Porto, Manchester City, Olympiacos, Marseille
D: Liverpool, Ajax, Atalanta, Midtjylland
E: Sevilla, Chelsea, Krasnodar, Stade Rennes
F: Zenit, Borussia Dortmund, Lazio, Club Brugge
G: Juventus, Barcelona, Dynamo Kiev, Ferencvaros
H: PSG, Manchester United, RB Leipzig, Istanbul Basaksehir
