Bergamo's Team Hosts The Blues, Spurs Hosts The Czech Side – An Evening of European Football
The focus is on a crucial night of European football. A pair of compelling matches headline the lineup, as teams fighting for important points as the group phase continues.
Chelsea's Inconsistent Form
What version of Chelsea will we see in Bergamo? Their previous European performance was a statement, a comprehensive three-goal win against Barcelona which was a peak in Enzo Maresca's tenure. Yet, results has been elusive since then. A solid draw with Arsenal was followed by a defeat at Leeds, and a dour stalemate on the south coast means they arrive with momentum drained.
They face a dangerous Atalanta who are level on points with them. La Dea suffered a 4-0 opening defeat at PSG yet have remained unbeaten on the continent since, defying their modest domestic form.
Tottenham's Test
Similar to their London counterparts, Tottenham can be notoriously unreliable. A 5-3 loss away to PSG, coming between disappointing defeats to Arsenal and Fulham, had increased pressure on boss Thomas Frank. However, recent domestic outings – a win and a draw available – have provided some stability.
Tonight, they welcome a Slavia Prague side still searching for their first victory in this year's tournament. This is precisely the kind of fixture that simply must be won if they are to climb towards the knockout places, especially with forthcoming challenges against Borussia Dortmund and Frankfurt still to come.
The Evening's Other Games
The drama is not limited to those two matches. One notable game, the Blaugrana will look to bounce back after their loss when they host Eintracht Frankfurt. Meanwhile, free-scoring PSV will provide a stern test to the backline of Diego Simeone's team. Finally, AS Monaco entertains the Turkish champions in a match that has all the makings of a potential high-scoring affair. All matches begin this evening.
A crucial night in the group stage awaits, with teams striving for a route towards the knockout rounds.
