Atalanta Hosts Chelsea, Tottenham Hosts Slavia Prague – A Night of European Football
All eyes turns to an important night of European football. A pair of fascinating encounters take center stage in the schedule, with sides competing for vital points as the group phase continues.
The Chelsea Conundrum
Which iteration of the London club will appear in Bergamo? Their last Champions League performance served as a declaration, an emphatic three-goal win against Barcelona that stood as a peak in their manager's reign. Yet, form has proven elusive afterwards. A solid draw against Arsenal came before a loss at Leeds, followed by a lackluster draw at Bournemouth means they arrive with momentum sapped.
Awaiting them is a tricky Atalanta who are tied in the standings with them. La Dea suffered a 4-0 loss in their first game at PSG yet have remained unbeaten in Europe ever since, defying somewhat mid-table results in Serie A.
Tottenham's Test
Similar to their rivals, Tottenham have been notoriously unreliable. A heavy loss in Paris, coming between disappointing losses in the Premier League, piled scrutiny on boss the Danish coach. But, recent league results – a win and a draw available – have provided a measure of calm.
This evening, they host a Slavia Prague side still searching for their first victory in the competition. These are precisely the kind of match which Spurs need to secure three points from for any hopes of climbing into the top eight, especially with upcoming games against Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt on the horizon.
Elsewhere Across Europe
The action is not limited to England and Italy. In a key encounter, Barcelona will look to respond after their loss when they host Eintracht Frankfurt. At the same time, free-scoring PSV will provide a major challenge to the backline of Atlético Madrid. Rounding out the night, Monaco entertains the Turkish champions in an encounter which promises of a potential high-scoring affair. All matches kick off this evening.
A crucial night for the tournament standings is upon us, with teams fighting to secure their path into the latter stages.
