Bergamo's Team Takes On Chelsea, Spurs Hosts The Czech Side – An Evening of Champions League Football
The focus turns to an important evening in the Champions League. A pair of compelling fixtures headline the schedule, as sides battling for crucial standings in the group stage.
A Question Mark Over Chelsea
Which iteration of Chelsea will show up in Bergamo? Their last European outing served as a declaration, a comprehensive three-goal win over the Catalan giants that stood as a high point in Enzo Maresca's tenure. Yet, results has proven elusive afterwards. A credible tie against Arsenal was followed by a loss at Leeds, followed by a lackluster draw at Bournemouth means they arrive with confidence drained.
They face a tricky Atalanta who are level on points with them. La Dea suffered a 4-0 loss in their first game at PSG but have remained unbeaten in Europe since, defying their mid-table domestic form.
A Must-Win for Tottenham
Much like their London counterparts, Ange Postecoglou's side have been notoriously unreliable. A heavy defeat in Paris, sandwiched between painful losses to Arsenal and Fulham, piled pressure on boss the Danish coach. However, recent domestic outings – four points from six – have provided a measure of calm.
This evening, they welcome a Slavia Prague side still searching for their first victory in the competition. This is exactly the type of match that simply must be won for any hopes of climbing towards the knockout places, particularly given forthcoming challenges against Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt on the horizon.
Elsewhere Across Europe
The action extends beyond those two matches. One notable game, Barcelona will look to respond after their loss as they welcome the German side. At the same time, high-flying PSV Eindhoven will provide a major challenge for the defence of Diego Simeone's team. Finally, Monaco entertains the Turkish champions in an encounter that has all the makings of a potential high-scoring affair. Every game kick off this evening.
A crucial evening for the tournament standings is upon us, as clubs fighting to secure a route into the latter stages.
