When the draw for the 2019/20 Champions League group stages was made, Group H did not look the most exciting group on paper. None of the favourites to win the competition were drawn in this group but on reflection, that could make it very exciting to watch.
Chelsea, Valencia, Ajax and Lille make up the group and it is Chelsea who host Valencia at Stamford Bridge on the first matchday.
Chelsea come into the match full of confidence following their tremendous 5-2 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. It was an important win for Frank Lampard and his players who broke up for the international break having let a 2 goal lead slip at home to Sheffield United, with the match ending 2-2.
The Blues are currently 6th in the Premier League table, with 8 points from five games played.
You must go back to the 2017/18 season to find the last time Chelsea were in the Champions League and they lost 4-1 to Barcelona on aggregate in the Round of 16. Trends show Chelsea have won only one of their last six Champions League matches, drawing three and losing two.
They have won just one of their last five at home in the competition, drawing each of the last three. The draws have come against Roma, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. Both teams have scored in four of Chelsea’s last five home Champions League matches.
Valencia faced the daunting task of a trip to the Camp Nou in La Liga on the weekend and left with a 5-2 thrashing from the defending champions. That result means Valencia have won only one of their four competitive games this season, which have all come in La Liga.
They sit down in 13th place in the league with 4 points from a possible 12 available. Their only win came at home against Real Mallorca prior to the international break.
Valencia were tough to beat in the Champions League group stage last season, losing just one of their last five games. They defeated both Young Boys and Manchester United but both wins came at home. Away from home Valencia have won just one of their last eight which was at Lyon in 2015.
The last time we faced Valencia at Stamford Bridge...👑 @DidierDrogba #CHEVCF pic.twitter.com/CkYJfcTMe8— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 16, 2019
The last time we faced Valencia at Stamford Bridge...👑 @DidierDrogba #CHEVCF pic.twitter.com/CkYJfcTMe8
Trends show they have failed to win any of their last five Champions League games on the road, losing three and have not scored a goal in four of their last five.
Team news and Chelsea are definitely without Ruben Loftus-Cheek who has a knee injury. They also have doubts over the fitness of Emerson, N’Golo Kante, Antonio Rüdiger and Marco Van Ginkel.
Valencia have doubts over Carlos Soler and Cristiano Piccini but should be close to full strength for this match.
Valencia struggled to score goals away from home in the Champions League last season and we could see more of the same in this campaign. Chelsea are tough to beat at home and could come away with a narrow 1 goal win.