Chelsea to face Serie A giants Juventus in Champions League group stage with Zenit and Malmo also in Group H

CHELSEA will face Juventus, Zenit Saint-Petersburg and Malmo in the 2021-22 Champions League group stage.

The Blues are out to defend their title after downing Manchester City in last season's final.

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Thursday's draw in Istanbul saw Thomas Tuchel's side become the last team drawn out of Pot 1, placing them in Group H.

And while Barcelona, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain were avoided out of the Pot 2 sides, Serie A giants Juve will pose a tough test.

The two sides have only met four times, each sharing a win alongside two draws.

Didier Drogba scored twice in a 3-2 aggregate victory for Chelsea in the 2008-09 last-16 before Juve claimed a 3-0 win in the 2012-13 groups, their last meeting.

The draw gives the Blues a chance to continue their long streak of denying Cristiano Ronaldo, who has only scored once and won five of his 15 encounters with Chelsea throughout his storied career.

That's if the Portuguese superstar has not joined Manchester City by then.

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Zenit Saint-Petersburg, the joint lowest-ranked of the Pot 3 teams based on Uefa coefficient, ar also in Group H.

Chelsea have never faced the Russians before but will hope to familiarise themselves with Krestovsky Stadium, as the venue also hosts the final.

Swedish side Malmo were drawn out of Pot 4 to complete the group.

Ross Barkley and Olivier Giroud each scored in both legs of their last and only meeting, a knockout win for the Blues in the 2018-19 Europa League.

Elsewhere in the draw, Manchester City were placed against Paris Saint-Germain with Barcelona facing Bayern Munich.

During Thursday's ceremony, Jorginho was named the Uefa Men's Player of the Year having guided Chelsea and Italy to glory.

Edouard Mendy won the Champions League Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Only Stade Rennais, Porto and Real Madrid scored past the Frenchman as he kept nine clean sheets in 12 appearances during last year's competition.

N'Golo Kante won the Midfielder of the Year gong, adding to his Man of the Match display in the final.

The Coach of the Year award was claimed by Thomas Tuchel following his triumph over Pep Guardiola in Porto.

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