The Champions League group stage fixtures have been confirmed by UEFA. Following the draw in Istanbul on Thursday, Chelsea knew who they would face in the group stages, having been paired with AC Milan from pot one, Salzburg from pot three and Dinamo Zagreb from pot four.
And now the Blues know when they will be facing each club in this year's competition after the fixture schedule was announced by UEFA. The Blues face the tricky trip to Dinamo Zagreb first up at 5.45pm on September 6. They then follow that up with a home game against Salzburg on September 14 before the double header with AC Milan.
The Blues host Milan at Stamford Bridge on October 5 and then travel to the San Siro a week later on October 11. The final two group games are a revers of the first two, with Salzburg away at 5.45pm on October 25 and then Dinamo Zagreb at home on November 2.
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It is a gruelling set of fixtures this season, with Europe's premier competition packed into a tighter schedule as a result of the World Cup in Qatar taking place in November and December. The Blues, like other Premier League clubs in European competition, face a set of nine games in the space of one month in October, with six Premier League matches and three in the Champions League.
Thomas Tuchel's men will be hoping to go further than they did last year in the top competition. The Blues finished second in their group and then beat Lille in the round of 16, but lost out to eventual winners Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, although they will feel they should have progressed over the two legs, much like other teams who faced Los Blancos last season.
Full list of fixtures:
Dinamo Zagreb vs Chelsea - Tuesday, September 6 - 5.45pm
Chelsea vs FC Salzburg - Wednesday, September 14 - 8pm
AC Milan vs Chelsea - Wednesday, October 5 - 8pm
Chelsea vs AC Milan - Tuesday, October 11 - 8pm
Salzburg vs Chelsea - Tuesday, October 25 - 5.45pm
Chelsea vs Dinamo Zagreb - Wednesday, November 2 - 8pm
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