Earlier this week it was announced the Blues will begin our 2020/21 Champions League campaign against Portuguese side Benfica. We will travel to Lisbon for the first leg which will take place on Wednesday 9 December at Caixa Futebol Campus, Seixal. The match in the Portuguese capital kicks off at 3pm UK time.

The return match will be a week later on Wednesday 16 December at Kingsmeadow with a 7pm kick-off.

Chelsea FC Women manager Emma Hayes commented on the draw and said: ‘We know it’s an unknown and they’ve a big history in the men’s game, so there’s a lot of excitement about that.

‘But, as much as anything, it’s excitement at just being back in the tournament. Opening up with a trip to Portugal, hopefully a day of warm weather, is great.

‘From what we’ve seen so far they’re a well-organised team and good on the counter. They’ve got highly technical players, a combination of Portuguese- and Brazilian-style football, so they keep the ball very well and I think it will be a different style to what we’re used to facing every week.

‘But as I’ve always stated, it’s about what we do. We make no secret of the fact we want to make progress in the competition this season, but we also know we have to be at our absolute best, and another level, if we’re going to dislodge some of the heavyweights.'