After Chelsea Ladies’ historic two-legged Champions League victory over mighty Bayern Munich, pictured, the Blues will be at home for the first game against Rosengard of Malmo, Sweden.

The match, on Wednesday November 8, is a last-16 tie against a side that will be every bit as tricky to overcome as Bayern.

But coach Emma Hayes believes that Chelsea Ladies’ new home is developing into a fortress for the Blues. “We’ve made Kingsmeadow our home immediately, and that’s not easy to achieve when you go to a new ground,” she said.

“We feel confident there, so starting off at home really allows us to set the tone for the tie.

“Everybody in the team understands their role and how to grind out a result.”

Ranged against Chelsea is a team which includes Champions League top scorer Anja Mittag… but the Blues will have a greater insight into how Rosengard play thanks not only to the shrewd sleuthing of opposition scout Donna Newberry but also the arrival in the summer of Scandinavian signings Maria Thorisdottir and Magda Eriksson.

Both players made their debuts in the Bayern matches. Magda knows Rosengard well having captained the Swedish side Linkopings, and playing alongside several of the Blues’ November opponents at international level.