Chelsea Euro test

Chelsea may face another Israeli upset when their Champions League campaign begins next month.

Claudio Ranieri's side will meet Maccabi Tel Aviv in the third qualifying round if the Isrealis dispose of Slovakian side Zilina.

A two-legged tie against the Slovakians would represent a journey into the unknown, but a match against the Israeli side would bring back some painful memories.

Chelsea crashed out in the second round of the UEFA Cup to Maccabi's neighbours Hapoel Tel Aviv two years ago, a defeat made more embarrassing by the refusal of six players to travel to Israel. Current players Marcel Desailly, William Gallas, Emmanuel Petit and Eidur Gudjohnsen all took the decision to stay at home because of security fears.

Following today's draw in Nyon, Chelsea will find out their opponents after the second qualifying round is completed on 6 August, but chief executive Trevor Birch welcomed the draw. He said: "We're pleased. It was a different set of circumstances then and we don't visualise the same kind of problems."

UEFA will make a decision on the venue next Monday but the Israeli side were forced to play the home leg of their first qualifying round in Budapest. Chelsea will begin their European adventure away from home on 12 or 13 August and play their opponents at Stamford Bridge a fortnight later, giving them a busy start to the season.

The first leg will take place just four days before their Premiership opener against Liverpool on 17 August and the timing of the second leg means that a league game against Birmingham, scheduled for 26 August, will be postponed.

The Champions League qualifier will provide the first test for Roman Abramovich's new-look Chelsea. The Russian billionaire is determined to make his club a force in Europe but their recent record on the Continent is extremely poor.