Chelsea aims for a strong Champions League start against Pafos FC at Stamford Bridge, seeking to rebound from an inconsistent domestic campaign.
The Champions League returns in 2026, and with it the participation of "The Blues", who seek to start on the right foot after having a very irregular start to the year in local competitions.
Chelsea's first Champions League match of the year will be Jan. 21 at home at the mythical Stamford Bridge against Pafos FC.
The team that plays in the Cyprus league started the year the same way, and its last Champions League match was Dec. 12 on the road against Italy's Juventus. The match ended in a 2-0 defeat. That loss sent Pafos FC to 27th place in the general Champions League standings with only 6 points.
Meanwhile, Chelsea FC had an irregular start to the year. Of the five matches so far this month, they have 2 wins (a 5-1 victory against Charlton in the FA Cup and the most recent, a 2-0 win against Brentford in the Premier League), 2 losses (a 1-0 defeat against Fulham in the Premier League and a 3-2 loss against Arsenal in the EFL Cup semifinal).
"The Blues'" last Champions League match was last Dec. 9, in the visit to Bergamo, Italy. The New Balance Arena stadium was witness to the clash between Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio and Chelsea Football Club. The match was still managed by former coach Enzo Maresca. They would start winning thanks to a goal by the Brazilian João Pedro in the 25th minute.
The match seemed like a guaranteed triumph for the English club, but the halftime break apparently helped Atalanta find a way to perform at home, as Italy's Gianluca Scamacca managed to score the equalizing goal in the 55th minute. The home team continued inspired and seeking victory, and in the 83rd minute, the Belgian native, Charles De Ketelaere, scored the goal that gave Atalanta the win.
After this match, Chelsea closed the year in 13th position with 10 points. That position keeps them out of direct qualification and sends them to the playoff zone.
This match seems "easy" in the process, but the Champions League is a competition full of surprises, and the team, now managed by England's Liam Rosenior, will seek to win the match at home to lift the team's spirits.
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