Thomas Tuchel may be trying to solve attacking problems that have seen Chelsea ruled out of the Premier League title race by late January with a £100million striker setting unwanted records - but as Champions League knockout assignments go, this should be as straightforward as they come.
And as Lille, the reigning Ligue 1 champions stuck in mid table this season, arrive with their head coach Jocelyn Gourvennec warning of a need to "manage the weak times" against a heavily favoured opponent, it is hard not to feel uncomfortable about the wider trend this tie steers towards.
Les Dogues’ financial reality is a signpost for the troubling direction football at the sharp end is heading and offers a comprehensible explanation into why, regardless of a Super League's existence, a select few clubs have engineered a monopolised environment.
