Match Today: Chelsea vs Dinamo Zagreb 06-09-2022 UEFA Champions League

Chelsea will seek to start the 2022/23 Champions League at the highest level when they face Dinamo Zagreb at Maksimir Stadium on Tuesday.

The UEFA Champions League 2022/23 season is set to kick off with the group stage this week.

Group E will see an early match on Tuesday night, as Dinamo Zagreb prepares to face hosts Chelsea at Maksimir Stadium this midweek. The 2022/23 season for Dinamo Zagreb began in July with the Croatian Super Cup final, defeating Hajduk Split on penalties. The Nationals have been in good shape ever since, and proceeded to an unbeaten start to the league campaign to climb to the top of the standings.

Ante Kasic's men fought the qualifying campaign to reach the group stage of the Champions League.

Chelsea may have looked shaky on their travels so far in the 2022/23 season, but they tend to perform better in Champions League matches, as they also did last season. The Blues also have a solid track record on the road in recent years, although they may have an uphill task to beat Dinamo Zagreb.

On the other hand, Chelsea's performance in the early stages of the 2022/23 season has been shaky, with the West London club struggling to achieve a string of positive results together.

The Blues have only played the Premier League so far, winning three times and losing two games to finish sixth at the table.

Dinamo Zagreb will be Chelsea's first Croatian opponent in a competitive match. And ahead of the first-ever meeting between the two sides, Ante Kasic has no injury fears hampering his preparations ahead of Chelsea's visit.

The Dinamo Zagreb coach will have a fully fit squad at his disposal before his team's opening Champions League match kicks off on Tuesday. Havertz continues to play at Chelsea although he is full of potential.

The Germany international started the 2022/23 season slowly after struggling to make his mark in the first few matches. But the 23-year-old will be keen to turn the tide after scoring the match-winning goal against West Ham United last weekend.

Unlike his counterpart at FC Dinamo Zagreb, Thomas Tuchel has some pressing fitness issues to deal with ahead of his trip to Maksimir Stadium.

On Tuesday, the Chelsea boss will be denied the services of just one first-team player. Wesley Fofana was slow to beat Chelsea last weekend, but he will look to continue growing as a pivotal player in west London. The French central defense will form the central defense unit with Thiago Silva and Kalidou Coulibaly.

Reece James will benefit from having Fofana behind him and will have more freedom to express himself as a right-back. Tuesday's match will be the first-ever European meeting between Dinamo Zagreb and Chelsea. Dinamo Zagreb will be the first Croatian opponent to Chelsea in a competitive match.

The Blues faced a team from a specific country in European competition for the first time in October 2018, defeating Belarusian team Bate Borisov 3-1 in the UEFA Champions League.