Chelsea players name Barcelona as their dream opponent in the Champions League
The Champions League League Stage draw has set the tone for an exciting 2025/26 season, and within Chelsea’s squad, one opponent stands out above all others: Barcelona.
Chelsea stars pick Barça as their preferred clash
After the draw, several Blues players were asked which team they most wanted to face. Enzo Fernández, Pedro Neto, Reece James, Cucurella, Robert Sánchez, and Malo Gusto all gave the same answer Barcelona.
Goalkeeper Robert Sánchez added Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to his list, naming the French giants as another side he would like to meet in the tournament.
The draw format and Chelsea’s path
The draw took place on Thursday (28) in Switzerland, distributing the 36 clubs into four pots. Each team will play eight matches in the league stage, with the top eight advancing directly to the round of 16, while those finishing 9th to 24th will play playoff matches.
Chelsea, drawn from Pot 1, will indeed meet Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in one of their eight fixtures. PSG, on the other hand, will not face Chelsea in the group stage but will clash with Barcelona.
Chelsea’s Champions League history
The Blues return to Europe’s top competition after lifting the Europa Conference League trophy last season. Their last Champions League campaign was in 2022/23, when they fell to Real Madrid in the quarterfinals, losing 4-0 on aggregate.
Chelsea last won the Champions League in 2011/12, under coach Roberto Di Matteo, claiming their second title in history.
