Bergamo's Team Takes On The Blues, Spurs Hosts The Czech Side – A Night of Champions League Action
All eyes turns to a pivotal night of European football. Two compelling encounters headline the lineup, as teams competing for important points as the group phase continues.
A Question Mark Over Chelsea
What version of the London club will show up in Bergamo? Their last Champions League outing was a statement, a comprehensive three-goal win against Barcelona which was a peak in Enzo Maresca's tenure. Yet, form has been unpredictable afterwards. A solid tie with Arsenal was followed by a loss away to Leeds United, and a lackluster draw on the south coast has left them with momentum sapped.
They face a tricky Atalanta who are tied in the standings alongside them. La Dea suffered a 4-0 opening defeat in Paris yet have gone undefeated on the continent since, contrasting somewhat mid-table results in Serie A.
Tottenham's Test
Much like their rivals, Ange Postecoglou's side have been notoriously inconsistent. A 5-3 defeat in Paris, coming between painful losses in the Premier League, had increased pressure on manager Thomas Frank. But, the last two league results – four points from six – have offered a measure of calm.
Tonight, they welcome Czech opponents still searching for their first victory in the competition. These are exactly the type of match that simply must secure three points from for any hopes of climbing towards the knockout places, particularly given forthcoming games versus Borussia Dortmund and Frankfurt still to come.
Other Key Fixtures
The drama is not limited to those two matches. One key encounter, Barcelona will look to bounce back after their loss when they host Eintracht Frankfurt. Meanwhile, high-flying PSV Eindhoven will provide a major challenge to the defence of Diego Simeone's team. Rounding out the night, AS Monaco entertains the Turkish champions in an encounter that has all the makings to be a goal-fest. Every game begin this evening.
A pivotal evening in the group stage awaits, with teams fighting to secure their path towards the knockout rounds.
