Bergamo's Team Takes On Chelsea, Tottenham Welcomes Slavia Prague – An Evening of Champions League Action
All eyes shifts towards an important night of European football. Two fascinating fixtures headline the schedule, with teams battling for vital standings in the group stage.
Chelsea's Inconsistent Form
Which iteration of Chelsea will appear in Bergamo? Their last European performance served as a declaration, a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Barcelona that stood as a peak for their manager's tenure. However, form has been elusive afterwards. A solid tie against their London rivals was followed by a loss away to Leeds United, and a dour stalemate on the south coast means they arrive with momentum drained.
They face a dangerous Atalanta who are tied in the standings alongside them. The Italian side endured a heavy opening defeat at PSG but have remained unbeaten in Europe since, defying their modest results in Serie A.
Spurs Seeking Consistency
Similar to their London counterparts, Ange Postecoglou's side have been famously unreliable. A 5-3 defeat away to PSG, coming between disappointing losses to Arsenal and Fulham, had increased scrutiny on manager Thomas Frank. However, the last two domestic outings – four points available – have offered a measure of calm.
This evening, they host a Slavia Prague side yet to win in this year's tournament. This is precisely the kind of match that simply must secure three points from for any hopes to climb towards the knockout places, particularly given upcoming challenges versus Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt still to come.
Elsewhere Across Europe
The action is not limited to those two matches. One key encounter, Barcelona will look to respond after their loss when they host the German side. At the same time, high-flying PSV Eindhoven will provide a stern test for the backline of Atlético Madrid. Rounding out the night, Monaco entertains the Turkish champions in an encounter which promises to be a goal-fest. All matches begin at 8pm GMT.
A pivotal night in the group stage is upon us, as clubs fighting for their path into the latter stages.
