Valencia CF to play Chelsea, Ajax and Lille in 2018/19 Champions League

Valencia CF will play Chelsea, Ajax and Lille in Group H of the 2019/20 Champions League, following the draw that took place in Monaco on Thursday evening.

The club, who have qualified for Europe's top club competition for the second consecutive season, were represented at the draw by president Anil Murthy.

Chelsea were the winners of last year's UEFA Europa League and placed third in the 2018/19 Premier League, and lifted the Champions League trophy back in 2012. They have met Valencia CF on six occasions in official competition, with VCF drawing three times and losing three times.

The last game between the two teams was in 2011. One of the players in the Chelsea side on that occasion, Frank Lampard, is now the manager of the Blues.

Ajax are the reigning Eredivisie and cup champions in the Netherlands, and the breakout team in last year's Champions League. After an epic campaign, they were eliminated from the competition in the semifinals, thanks to a late Tottenham goal in the 96th minute.

They progress to the group stage of this year's edition thanks to their elimination of APOEL FC in a qualifying game.

The two previous encounters between Valencia CF and Ajax occured in the Champions League, with two 1-1 draws in the 2002/03 second Group Stage.

LOSC Lille, meanwhile, placed runners-up behind PSG in Ligue 1 in 2018/19. There have been four official games for them against Valencia CF, and in 2012 they were in the same Champions League group. This summer they have sold players such as Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Tiago Mendes (Olympique Lyonnais) and Simone Pepe (Arsenal FC), but remain dangerous opponents.