Group C analysis: Chelsea, Atlético, Roma, Qarabağ
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Article summary
Azerbaijan's Qarabağ provide a taste of the unknown for the rest of Group C but English champions Chelsea and Atlético Madrid need no introductions.
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Who's in Group C?
Chelsea (ENG)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 10
• How they qualified: first in English Premier League
• Previous group stage campaigns: 14 (last appearance: 2015/16)
• Last season: not in UEFA competition
• Best European Cup performance: winners x 1 (2011/12)
Atlético Madrid (ESP)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 4
• How they qualified: third in Spanish Liga
• Previous group stage campaigns: 7 (last appearance: 2016/17)
• Last season: UEFA Champions League semi-finals
• Best European Cup performance: runners-up (1973/74, 2013/14, 2015/16)
Roma (ITA)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 37
• How they qualified: second in Serie A
• Previous group stage campaigns: 9 (last appearance: 2015/16)
• Last season: UEFA Champions League play-offs/UEFA Europa League round of 16
• Best European Cup performance: runners-up (1983/84)
Qarabağ (AZE)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 106
• How they qualified: first in Azerbaijani Premier League, play-off winners
• Previous group stage campaigns: debut (first Azerbaijani qualifiers)
• Last season: UEFA Europa League group stage
• Best European Cup performance: group stage (2017/18)
Matchday one fixtures (Tuesday 12 September)
Chelsea v Qarabağ
Roma v Atlético Madrid
Key facts
• Atlético reached the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League final by beating Chelsea in the semi-finals, following up a goalless home leg with a 3-1 victory at Stamford Bridge.
• The Spanish club also beat Chelsea in the 2012 UEFA Super Cup, coming out on top 4-1 thanks mainly to a Radamel Falcao hat-trick.
• Chelsea and Roma met in the 2008/09 group stage, Chelsea winning 1-0 in London but going down 3-1 in Italy.
• Group stage debutants Qarabağ have never played Chelsea, Atlético or Roma before.
• Atlético's only previous tie with Roma came in the 1998/99 UEFA Cup quarter-finals, the Spanish side winning 2-1 home and away.