Rosenior prepares for Champions League debut as Chelsea target automatic qualification against Pafos | OneFootball

Chelsea return to Champions League action against Pafos at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

It will be Liam Rosenior’s first match in the competition as Chelsea manager, with the new era entering a decisive stage with only two league-phase fixtures remaining.

Chelsea begin the matchday two points outside the top eight, meaning qualification for the last-*16 without the need for a play-off remains firmly within reach.

Rosenior has already overseen matches in the Premier League and League Cup since his appointment, but this represents his most high-profile test to date.

Chelsea’s European campaign has been uneven, with three wins, one draw and two defeats leaving them marooned in mid-table rather than among the automatic qualifiers.

Their most recent Champions League outing ended in a narrow 2-1 defeat away to Atalanta, a result that underlined their vulnerability on the road.

Crucially, all of their dropped points in the competition have come away from home.

Stamford Bridge has remained a source of reassurance, with Chelsea unbeaten in 17 Champions League group or league-phase matches on home soil.

They have also scored in 21 consecutive European matches, reinforcing their attacking reliability in front of their own supporters.

A battling 2-0 Premier League win over Brentford at the weekend offered a timely boost, even if it was only their second victory in eight matches across all competitions.

The Cypriot side have lost just two of their six league-phase matches and sit only one point outside the top 24.

However, their away record in Europe offers encouragement to Chelsea, with Pafos yet to score on their travels in the competition.

Even so, the visitors arrive with little to lose and plenty to gain.

This will be their first meeting with an English club, adding another layer of motivation to an already historic occasion.

Chelsea are the favourites, but the stakes on both sides suggest a contest that will demand intensity, focus and patience.

With automatic qualification still attainable and pressure beginning to mount, Rosenior’s Champions League bow comes with no margin for complacency.