Atalanta Faces Chelsea, Spurs Welcomes Slavia Prague – An Evening of European Action
The focus is on a crucial evening in the Champions League. A pair of fascinating encounters headline the schedule, with sides competing for crucial points in the group stage.
The Chelsea Conundrum
What version of Chelsea will show up in Bergamo? Their previous Champions League outing was a statement, a comprehensive 3-0 victory against the Catalan giants that stood as a high point for Enzo Maresca's tenure. However, form has been unpredictable afterwards. A credible tie against their London rivals was followed by a loss at Leeds, and a dour draw at Bournemouth means they arrive with momentum sapped.
They face a tricky opponent who are level on points with them. La Dea suffered a 4-0 opening defeat at PSG but have gone undefeated in Europe since, defying their modest results in Serie A.
Tottenham's Test
Much like their London counterparts, Ange Postecoglou's side have been famously unreliable. A 5-3 defeat away to PSG, coming between painful losses in the Premier League, had increased scrutiny on boss the Danish coach. But, recent domestic outings – a win and a draw from six – have offered a measure of calm.
Tonight, they welcome a Slavia Prague side yet to win in the competition. This is exactly the type of fixture that simply must secure three points from if they are of climbing into the top eight, particularly given forthcoming challenges against Borussia Dortmund and Frankfurt on the horizon.
Other Key Fixtures
The action is not limited to those two matches. One notable game, Barcelona will look to respond after their loss when they host Eintracht Frankfurt. At the same time, free-scoring PSV Eindhoven will provide a major challenge for the backline of Atlético Madrid. Rounding out the night, AS Monaco hosts the Turkish champions in a match that has all the makings to be a high-scoring affair. Every game kick off at 8pm GMT.
A crucial evening for the tournament standings is upon us, with teams fighting to secure a route into the latter stages.