CHELSEA have discovered the four teams they could potentially face in the round of 16 of the Europa Conference League.
The Blues ended their comfortable league run last night with a 5-1 win over Shamrock Rovers.
Six of the six wins saw Enzo Maresca's men top the 36-team group with minimal fuss.
As one of the top eight, Chelsea will skip the play-off round, which is contested between teams seeded between nine and 24th.
Instead, they go straight to the round of 16.
And one of FC Copenhagen, Ghent, Heidenheim or Real Betis awaits them.
In today's Conference League draw, Ghent drew against Real Betis, while Copenhagen faced Heidenheim.
The last sixteen matches don't start until March, with first legs on the sixth and second on the 13th.
The play-off round, meanwhile, will take place in February.
Chelsea's position in the group will not be confirmed until the draw on February 21, meaning they can still play the winners of both matches.
The Blues and second seeds Vitoria, or Portugal, could end up at either end of the group.
It means Maresca's men have a good chance of meeting a side they have already met in the competition.
They beat Gent 4-2 at Stamford Bridge on matchday one in October.
While three weeks ago they triumphed 2-0 over Heidenheim.
It remains to be seen how seriously Maresca will take the competition.
Their 25-man squad for the group stage left out star man Cole Palmer, as well as Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia.
Maresca was asked by TNT Sports last night whether Palmer could be added to the selection for the knockouts.
'A LITTLE UNHAPPY'
He said: “Depending on January. We don't want to sell players in January, but players who don't play much will be a bit unhappy.
“It depends on what happens in January and then we will decide.
“This competition lasts until March and then we have the FA Cup.
“The players have to be ready when they go to play.”
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