Chelsea have been grouped with Sevilla, Krasnodar and Rennes in the first stage of this season’s Champions League.
The draw, without any club representatives present, took place at UEFA headquarters in Switzerland on Thursday afternoon, with the Blues in Pot 2. The balls were selected by two former Blues, Didier Drogba who collected the UEFA President’s Award at the ceremony, and Florent Malouda.From Pot 1, the collection of the holders, the Europa League winners and the champions of the six highest-ranked nations who did not qualify as winners of one of the 2019/20 titles, Chelsea were given the team that did win the Europa League, Spanish side Sevilla. The games will be the first meetings between the sides.From Pot 3 came Krasnodar from Russia, the group stage for the first time, and from Pot 4, the lowest ranked teams, Champions League debutants Rennes will be our opposition. That sets up an early return to his former club for Edouard Mendy. Both Krasnodar and Rennes will also be fresh opponents for Chelsea.Unusually this season, the exact dates for the fixtures will not be announced until Friday evening after the Europa League draw has taken place but the possible matchdays are below:Matchday 1: 20/21 OctoberMatchday 2: 27/28 OctoberMatchday 3: 3/4 NovemberMatchday 4: 24/25 NovemberMatchday 5: 1/2 DecemberMatchday 6: 8/9 December