Here are Chelsea’s possible opponents in the Champions League group stage.
Chelsea not only gained qualification by finishing third in the league, but also managed to lift the Europa League; winners of that competition will be allowed to participate directly in this Champions League.
The former manager Maurizio Sarri left to Juventus and has been replaced by Frank Lampard in Stamford Bridge. The Chelsea hero will be a relieved man after securing his first victory as Blues boss. The Reigning Europa League winners overcame Norwich City in the last weekend, after a series of disappointing results against Manchester United, Liverpool, and Leicester City.
Chelsea are placed in the Champions League pot 1 following the Europa League victory. That particular pot comprises of the reigning Champions League winners and league winners across top European leagues. It includes Liverpool, Manchester City, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Paris Saint Germain, Zenit St.Petersburg.
POT 2
The pot 2 sees the runners-up or the clubs getting placed on this pot depending on the UEFA coefficient.
Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli, Tottenham Hotspur, Shakhtar Donetsk, Benfica, and one of Ajax or Apoel Nicosia. Since clubs from same leagues cannot face each other until the Quarterfinals, the Blues will avoid playing their fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
POT 3
The pot 3 are some of the clubs from countries outside the top five European leagues.
It consists of Lyon, Bayer Leverkusen, Red Bull Salzburg, Valencia, Inter Milan, FC Krasnodar or Olympiacos, Club Brugge or LASK, Dinamo Zagreb or Rosenborg.
POT 4
Pot 4 majorly consists of the lower-ranked teams in the UEFA coefficient.
Lokomotiv Moscow, Atalanta, Lille, Red Bull Leipzig, Galatasaray, Genk, while one of Red Star Belgrade or Young Boys, and Slavia Praha or CFR Cluj will secure a place in the Champions League group stages.
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POSSIBLE GROUP OF DEATH:
Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, RB Leipzig.
POSSIBLE EASIEST GROUP:
Chelsea, Benfica, Dinamo Zagreb, Young Boys.
