Chelsea will be confident of progressing from Group E after a favourable Champions League draw.
While the Blues will face a tricky test AC Milan, and with that a reunion with former Blues players Fikayo Tomori and Olivier Giroud, Thomas Tuchel’s side will be favourites to get past RB Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb.
Chelsea went all the way in Europe two seasons ago as Tuchel made a flying start to life at Stamford Bridge, while the club fell just short in a thrilling quarter-final tie against Real Madrid last campaign.
It remains to be seen what the exact European dates are, but Chelsea’s second match will come a few days before they host Liverpool in the Premier League, while the penultimate group-stage clash will take place just after Manchester United’s visit to Stamford Bridge.
It doesn’t get much easier a week later, the final Group E game being played ahead of a Premier League match against Arsenal.
Champions League dates:
Matchday 1 (6/7 September)
Matchday 2 (13/14 September)
Matchday 3 (4/5 October)
Matchday 4 (11/12 October)
Matchday 5 (25/26 October)
Matchday 6 (1/2 November)