Frank Lampard and Chelsea learned their fate in the Champions League on Thursday with the draw for the competition’s group stages.
The Blues will face off against French side Rennes, reigning Europa League champions Sevilla, and Russian outfit FC Krasnodar.
Chelsea will no doubt be pleased to avoid many of the competition’s big hitters, but the thought of a midweek trip to Russia and games against giant-killers Sevilla and surprise package Rennes will present a tough test for Lampard.
Here we take a look at the Blue’s opponents in a bit more depth to see what awaits them in the Champions League group stage this term.
Rennes
The French side finished third last season in Ligue 1 and have started this campaign undefeated and are top after five matches.
They tend to fluctuate between 3-5-2 and 4-4-2 formations, and with new Chelsea signing Edouard Mendy in between the sticks last season, they were solid defensively – only one Ligue 1 side managed to concede fewer goals than their total of 24.
Forward M’Baye Niang has scored a struck 21 league goals across the previous two seasons and will be a threat.
Sevilla
Played predominantly in a 4-3-3 formation last term. A good attacking unit, they netted the fourth-highest number of goals in La Liga last season and won the Europa League, as is now almost customary.
Their biggest threat is Lucas Ocampos. Plays on the right of the Sevilla attack but focuses more on scoring goals than creating them. Left-footed, he netted 14 times in the league last season.
FC Krasnodar
Usually deployed a 4-2-3-1., they finished third in the Russian top flight last term and were second for goals scored. However, they were seventh for goals conceded, which indicates their defence isn’t the best.
Swedish forward Marcus Berg struck 23 league goals last season and is his side's biggest threat.
The trio – which were drawn out of the pots by former Blues Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda – represent testing opponents for Chelsea.
However, Lampard will fancy his chances of emerging from Group E and into the knockout stages.
