Although we have never met Ajax in European competition, we did play them in a pre-season friendly in Amsterdam in 2010. 



They beat PAOK, opponents of ours last season in the Europa League, and APOEL Nicosia in qualifying to reach this season’s group stage.  The Eredivisie champions have won two and drawn one of their three league fixtures this season.  They are managed by Erik ten Hag and play in the 55,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, the stadium where we won the 2013 Europa League final. 



We have played Valencia in three previous Champions League campaigns: the quarter-final in 2007, which we won 3-2 on aggregate, then in the group stages later that same year and again in 2011 on our way to victory in the competition.  Frank Lampard scored Chelsea’s goal on our last trip to the Mestalla, which ended in a 1-1 draw. 



Valencia, managed by Marcelino Garcia Toral, have started their La Liga campaign with a draw and a defeat.  They finished fourth at home last season when they also reached the Europa League semi-finals, where they were beaten by Arsenal. 

Like Ajax, Lille represent fresh opposition for us.  They qualified by finishing second in Ligue 1 and so far this season have won two and lost one of their games.  They play in the Stade Pierre Mauroy, a 50,000-seater that held six fixtures at Euro 2016. 



Their former players include Joe Cole, Eden Hazard and Salomon Kalou.  This summer they signed Timothy Weah, son of George, from PSG.