Atalanta Hosts Chelsea, Spurs Welcomes Slavia Prague – A Night of Champions League Football
All eyes shifts towards an important night of European football. A pair of fascinating encounters headline the lineup, as sides fighting for crucial standings in the group stage.
Chelsea's Inconsistent Form
Which iteration of the London club will show up in Bergamo? Their previous European performance served as a declaration, an emphatic three-goal win over the Catalan giants which was a peak in their manager's tenure. Yet, results has proven elusive since then. A solid tie against their London rivals was followed by a defeat away to Leeds United, followed by a dour draw on the south coast has left them with confidence drained.
They face a dangerous Atalanta that sits level on points with them. The Italian side endured a heavy opening defeat at PSG yet have remained unbeaten in Europe ever since, defying their mid-table results in Serie A.
A Must-Win for Tottenham
Much like their rivals, Ange Postecoglou's side can be famously inconsistent. A heavy loss away to PSG, coming between painful defeats to Arsenal and Fulham, piled pressure on boss the Danish coach. But, recent league results – four points from six – have offered a measure of calm.
This evening, they host a Slavia Prague side still searching for their first victory in the competition. These are exactly the type of fixture which Spurs need to secure three points from if they are to climb towards the knockout places, particularly given forthcoming games against Borussia Dortmund and Frankfurt on the horizon.
The Evening's Other Games
The drama is not limited to England and Italy. One key encounter, the Blaugrana will look to bounce back from their defeat as they welcome the German side. Meanwhile, high-flying PSV Eindhoven will provide a stern test for the backline of Atlético Madrid. Finally, AS Monaco hosts the Turkish champions in an encounter that has all the makings of a potential goal-fest. Every game kick off at 8pm GMT.
A crucial evening in the group stage is upon us, as clubs striving to secure a route towards the knockout rounds.
