PARIS - Chelsea's chances of successfully defending their Champions League crown will be given a stiff early examination when they take on Italian champions Juventus at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.
Roberto Di Matteo's men will host the Serie A title-holders four months to the day after winning the trophy in a dramatic penalty shoot-out against Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena, and they would appear to come into the Group E game in great nick.
However, Di Matteo knows the rest of the continent will up their game every time they play the defending champions.
"Every opposition is going to play with extra motivation playing against the holders of the Champions League. So it makes our lives more difficult," said the Italian.
"I'm aware no team has defended the trophy and I'm not surprised because it's such a difficult competition to win."