The return of Champions League football is just over a week away and tickets for the visit of Bordeaux go on general sale today.

In a competition that encapsulates the hopes and expectations for European football's great and good, Chelsea will look to exceed last year's considerable effort and clinch the much sought after trophy.

However, no one will be getting carried away with the group stage to negotiate first and we face last year's Championnat runners-up and French Super Cup winners Bordeaux on Tuesday 16 September.

Managed by former Manchester United defender Laurent Blanc, Bordeaux have a pedigree having been crowned champions of France five times and, in Europe, having reached the final of the Uefa Cup in 1996.

Whilst the draw, which also included Roma and CFR Cluj, could have been more demanding on the Blues, John Terry, speaking after the teams had been grouped in Monaco, was taking nothing for granted.

'There's a couple of tough groups - we've missed a few big teams - but there's the likes of Roma and Bordeaux in our group who we know are very good,' the captain said.

While Chelsea have grown accustomed to reaching the knockout stage with games to spare, the expectations at Bordeaux are somewhat different according to Blanc.

'Personally, I was most impatient for the drawing of the final team because I would rather have avoided Fiorentina, Atletico Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kiev,' he said.

'If we manage to play well and we are lucky enough to have a chance going into the final match, it would be an exploit for the club.

'We will prepare to qualify. If it happens then it is all so much better but, if not, we will try next season.'

While Chelsea will be hosting Cluj in the final group match, Bordeaux will be in Rome.

With no history between us and the side from France, recent form is all that can guide us.

Having lost at home to Lille last week, Bordeaux lie seventh in the Ligue 1 table whilst the Blues sit atop the Barclays Premier League, unbeaten in the first three games.

Despite this, threats still abound from the Bordeaux line-up. Argentinian striker Fernando Cavenaghi (pictured), after a difficult time in Russia with Spartak Moscow, is back in the goals at the Parc Lescure with 17 from 32 last term.

With 55 goals from a mere 88 games during his time at River Plate, Cavenaghi is not to be taken lightly. Other notable names include French internationals Yoann Gourcuff, on-loan from AC Milan, and Alou Diarra, formerly of Liverpool.

Summer signing Diego Placente will be known to some as a team mate of Michael Ballack's during Bayer Leverkusen's march to the final in 2002. David Bellion, the former Manchester United striker is also among the ranks at Les Marines.

Scolari and his squad will certainly not underestimate the French, especially in a competition that holds so much importance for everyone connected with Chelsea.

As Terry says, 'The Champions League is the biggest competition in the world and playing in it is very special to me.'

Elsewhere among our group stage opponents, Roma drew their opening Serie A encounter last weekend. Alberto Aquilani was on target but they had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Napoli.

Cluj are down in 11^th place in the Romanian league having won only two of their opening six games. A 0-0 home draw was their result the previous weekend. Currently top with five wins out of six are Unirea Urziceni, managed by Dan Petrescu.

Tickets for the home group stage games of the Champions League are priced at £25 adults, £12 seniors and juniors.

For full ticket information and online booking visit Ticket News.