CHELSEA return to the Champions League this season after a one-year absence – and have been given an early boost by being seeded in Pot One of today’s draw.
Frank Lampard’s side know they can avoid some of the biggest clubs in the competition when the balls are picked out in Monaco, having been placed among the top eight sides courtesy of being Europa League winners last season.
Winning the Europa League last seasonw as enough to return Chelsea to the Champions League and see them seeded in Pot OnePA:Press Association
But there are still some potential big matches they could face if the draw goes against them when it gets underway at 5pm.
For lurking in Pot Two are some major threats – clubs who will fancy their chances of making a deep run in the tournament this season.
Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dotrmund are all possible opponents among the second seeded group.
Should they draw Real then it would mean a quick meeting with former star Eden Hazard following his move in the summer, while another ex-Blue Alvaro Morata leads the Atleti attack.
The small matter of beaten semi-finalists last year Ajax also in that pot – so there is every chance Chelsea will be handed a showpiece draw.
Pot Three has a couple of sleeping dangers, particularly in the shape of an Inter Milan side managed by former boss Antonio Conte now featuring Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez.
Chelsea’s Nightmare Draw
Chelsea
Real Madrid
Inter Milan
Galatasaray
Chelsea’s Ideal Draw
Chelsea
Benfica
Salzburg
Genk
Confirmed teams
Pot 1
Liverpool (ENG, holders)
Chelsea (ENG, UEFA Europa League winners)
Barcelona (ESP)
Manchester City (ENG)
Juventus (ITA)
Bayern Munich (GER)
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Zenit (RUS)
Pot 2
Real Madrid (ESP)
Atletico Madrid (ESP)
Borussia Dortmund (GER)
Napoli (ITA)
Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
Tottenham Hotspur (ENG)
Benfica (POR)
Ajax (NED)
Pot 3
Lyon (FRA)
Bayer Leverkusen (GER)
Salzburg (AUT)
Valencia (ESP)
Inter Milan (ITA)
Club Brugge (BEL)
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
Olympiakos (GRE)
Pot 4
Lokomotiv Moscow (RUS)
Genk (BEL)
Galatasaray (TUR)
RB Leipzig (GER)
Atalanta (ITA)
Lille (FRA)
Red Star Belgrade (SRB)
Slavia Prague (CZE)
How does the draw work?
26 teams given direct entry to the group stage will be joined by the six winners of the play-off ties.
The teams will then be split into four seeding pots.
Pot 1 consists of the holders, Europa League winners and the champions of the six highest-ranked nations. Pots 2 to 4 are determined by the club coefficient rankings.
No team can play a club from their own association, with the exact draw procedure to be confirmed before the ceremony.
The draw also establishes the groups for the UEFA Champions League path of the UEFA Youth League.
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Uefa Awards
The following prizes will also be announced during the draw ceremony in the South of France:
Uefa Men’s Player of the Year
Uefa Women’s Player of the Year
Goalkeeper of the 2018/19 Champions League season
Defender of the 2018/19 Champions League season
Midfielder of the 2018/19 Champions League season
Forward of the 2018/19 Champions League season
Jordan Henderson lifted the Champions League trophy after Liverpool beat SpursAlamy Live News
Champions League 2019/20 schedule
August 2019
Play off round, first leg – August 20/21
Play off round, second leg – August 27/28
Group stage draw, Monaco – August 29
September 2019
Group stage, matchday one – September 17/18
October 2019
Group stage, matchday two – October 1/2
Group stage, matchday three – October 22/23
November 2019
Group stage, matchday four – November 5/6
Group stage, matchday five – November 26/27
December 2019
Group stage, matchday six – December 10/11
Round of 16 draw, Nyon – December 16
February 2020
Round of 16, first leg – February 18/19 and 25/26
March 2020
Round of 16, second leg – March 10/11 and 17/18
Quarter final and semi-final draw, Nyon – March 20
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