UCL GROUP STAGE OPPONENTS: CHELSEA, KRASNODAR AND STADE RENNAIS

01/10/2020
Sevilla FC faced the Russian side in the 2018/19 UEFA Europa League Group Stage, but have never played against their other group stage rivals

Sevilla FC now know the three teams that they will square up against in the UEFA Champions League Group Stage, ahead of the fixtures being drawn later tonight in Geneva. Julen Lopetegui's team, who were in Pot 1 as a result of winning the UEFA Europa League, were drawn into Group E, and will face English side Chelsea FC, FC Krasnodar from Russia and the French team Stade Rennais.

The Nervionenses played in Krasnodar two years ago

Sevilla FC have never faced the Blues in official competition, but they have played against fellow Londoners Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur. Led by one of their legends, Frank Lampard, they have won the competition on one occasion. That was in 2012, as they beat Bayern on penalties in Munich. They have also won the Europa League twice, the Cup Winners' Cup twice and the UEFA Super Cup once. They finished fourth in England's top flight, which they have won six times, most recently in 2016/17. 

The nearest trip will see the Blanquirrojos face Stade Rennais, from France. Like Krasnodar, this is their first appearance in the UCL Group Stage after a fantastic season saw them finish third in Ligue 1. They have won the French Cup on three occasions, most recently in 2019. That win took them into the UEFA Europa League last season, but they finished bottom of their group, behind Celtic, Cluj and Lazio. 

FC Krasnodar is a name that will be familiar to Sevillistas, as they were opponents in the UEFA Europa League Group Stage two seasons ago. The Nervionenses won 3-0 at the Sánchez-Pizjuán, but were beaten 2-1 in Russia. The Russian side qualified for the tournament with a third-placed finish in the Russian Premier League and progressed to the Group Stage with two 2-1 wins against Greek outfit PAOK. Last season, they qualified for Europe's elite competition for the first time, but they were beaten in the play-off round by Olympiacos.