We step into the unknown in Slovakia this evening, but Florent Malouda believes it is such trips that make the Champions League so exciting.
It is our eighth successive season in Europe's premier club competition but tonight is a debut for MSK Zilina, the Slovakian champions who progressed past Sparta Prague to reach the groups for the first time.
It is unusual these days to play completely new opposition, but Malouda pointed out it has also happened in the last two campaigns.
'In the past when you think about Cluj, when we first played them they were new, and last year we played APOEL Nicosia, so it can happen,' the Frenchman said. 'That's the Champions League, now there are so many countries involved that it is exciting. It is original, that's the beauty of this competition.
'It is always a danger for a big team like us to go there, if you're not completely focused you can have big disappointments, so we shouldn't go there thinking it is going to be easy. We have to be really concentrated throughout the game.'
Of course the scouts will have been busying their reports for Carlo Ancelotti since the group stage draw was made in late August, and Malouda believes the tempo of the game will be an important factor in deciding its outcome.
'Now with the videos and all the games on TV you can find out almost everything about the opposition, all the teams know the way we play,' he suggested.
'I think the difference will be the pace of the game. If we can control the pace then it will be good for us but if we go there and start slow and sloppy it will turn to their advantage, that's the first thing we have to do.'
The other teams in Group F are French champions Marseille and Russian runners-up Spartak Moscow, both of whom are expected to provide stiff competition. Malouda is already looking forward to facing the side from his homeland at Stamford Bridge in a fortnight's time.
'Marseille will be a difficult one because if you look at the recent years the French teams have done well in the Champions League,' he said. 'Last year they had two teams in the last eight. It is big for them, they were champions last year and were waiting a long time, so they will want a good start.
'They won't want to come to Stamford Bridge and lose 4-0 like Bordeaux did two years ago. I can tell you it will be difficult in both games. Over there it is a big atmosphere but we are used to that.
'For all the teams in the group we are at the beginning and we all want to finish first, so we have to get the points.'
It is our eighth successive season in Europe's premier club competition but tonight is a debut for MSK Zilina, the Slovakian champions who progressed past Sparta Prague to reach the groups for the first time.
It is unusual these days to play completely new opposition, but Malouda pointed out it has also happened in the last two campaigns.
'In the past when you think about Cluj, when we first played them they were new, and last year we played APOEL Nicosia, so it can happen,' the Frenchman said. 'That's the Champions League, now there are so many countries involved that it is exciting. It is original, that's the beauty of this competition.
'It is always a danger for a big team like us to go there, if you're not completely focused you can have big disappointments, so we shouldn't go there thinking it is going to be easy. We have to be really concentrated throughout the game.'
Of course the scouts will have been busying their reports for Carlo Ancelotti since the group stage draw was made in late August, and Malouda believes the tempo of the game will be an important factor in deciding its outcome.
'Now with the videos and all the games on TV you can find out almost everything about the opposition, all the teams know the way we play,' he suggested.
'I think the difference will be the pace of the game. If we can control the pace then it will be good for us but if we go there and start slow and sloppy it will turn to their advantage, that's the first thing we have to do.'
The other teams in Group F are French champions Marseille and Russian runners-up Spartak Moscow, both of whom are expected to provide stiff competition. Malouda is already looking forward to facing the side from his homeland at Stamford Bridge in a fortnight's time.
'Marseille will be a difficult one because if you look at the recent years the French teams have done well in the Champions League,' he said. 'Last year they had two teams in the last eight. It is big for them, they were champions last year and were waiting a long time, so they will want a good start.
'They won't want to come to Stamford Bridge and lose 4-0 like Bordeaux did two years ago. I can tell you it will be difficult in both games. Over there it is a big atmosphere but we are used to that.
'For all the teams in the group we are at the beginning and we all want to finish first, so we have to get the points.'
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