Champions League 2019: What Chelsea can expect from group opponents Ajax, Valencia and Lille

Frank Lampard’s Blues have been handed an attractive, but challenging draw on their return to the competition

Chelsea are back in the Champions League and will face Ajax, Valencia and Lille in the group stage this season.

Frank Lampard will guide the Blues this season as Europa League champions, which helped them enter Thursday’s draw in pot one to receive, in theory, an easier draw.

Last year’s semi-finalists Ajax and French side Lille have never faced the Blues in European competitions, but there are fond memories of facing Valencia, having reached the final of the competition in the only seasons they have faced Los Che.

With Erik ten Haag’s side rebuilding after having their squad picked apart this summer and Nicolas Pepe leaving Lille, the Blues can relate to their predicaments given they are also currently rebuilding after the loss of Eden Hazard and introduction of younger faces under Lampard.

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect from this year’s group stage opponents.

Ajax

After clinching the title last season to somewhat overcome the devastating effect of their dramatic semi-final exit to Tottenham, star men Matthijs De Ligt and Frenkie De Jong departed to Juventus and Barcelona respectively.

Erik ten Hag is rebuilding well though and negotiated a play-off against Apoel Nicosia, 2-0 on aggregate, to guide the four-time winners back to the group stage.

Donny van de Beek remains despite interest this summer, as does star wide man David Neres. The Dutch giants have splashed the cash too, bringing in Quincy Promes, Edson Alvarez, Lisandro Martinez and Razvan Marin as they bid to extend the shelf life of what was one of Europe's most exciting sides last term.

Head-to-head: The Blues have never faced the Dutch giants in European competitions.

Ajax celebrate are Dusan Tadic scores (EPA)

Valencia

Marcelino has repelled the chaos surrounding the club to guide the Spaniards back to the Champions League.

The addition of Maxi Gomez should prove exciting, while Goncalo Guedes is a special talent capable of unlocking the tightest of defences, let alone one that is seemingly as vulnerable as Chelsea this season.

Head-to-head: The Blues have played Los Che is only two seasons in their history, both times reaching the Champions League final.

In six games total, Chelsea have won three and drawn three, leaving the Spaniards winless.

Dani Parejo wins the ball back for Valencia (EPA)

Lille

Lille enter this season without superstar Nicolas Pepe after Arsenal bought the Ivorian for £72m.

Lille and Chelsea may not have much history in terms of playing against each other, but the Blues purchased Eden Hazard from the Ligue 1 side in 2012, with the Belgian proving to be one of the greatest players to ever step foot on the Stamford Bridge turf.

Christophe Galtier remains one of the most respected coaches in French football and his side have started the season well with two wins from three.

Renato Sanches, Yusuf Yazici, Victor Osimhen and Timothy Weah cost a combined £53m, while Jonathan Ikone is emerging as a star and has already broken into the France squad. All of which is going some way to replacing the loss of Pepe and making them a more well-rounded side, who will fancy their chances of escaping the group.

Ikone is emerging as a star for Lille (REUTERS)

Verdict

Chelsea’s opponents will be happy enough to face them as much as the Blues will be content with their trio of opponents. The limited travel will also be an added bonus as they content for a top four finish. Overall it’s a kind draw and one they should emerge from, even if they must settle for a runners-up place.

Full Group Stage Draw

Group A: Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Club Brugge, Galatasaray

Group B: Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur, Olympiakos, Crvena Zvezda

Group C: Manchester City, Shakhtar Donetsk, Dinamo Zagreb, Atalanta

Group D: Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lokomotiv Moscow

Group E: Liverpool, Napoli, FC Salzburg, Genk

Group F: Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Slavia Prague

Group G: Zenit St Petersburg, Benfica, Lyon, RB Leipzig

Group H: Chelsea, Ajax, Valencia, Lille