Bergamo's Team Faces The Blues, Spurs Welcomes The Czech Side – An Evening of Champions League Action
All eyes is on a crucial night of European football. A pair of compelling matches take center stage in the schedule, as teams competing for crucial points as the group phase continues.
A Question Mark Over Chelsea
What version of Chelsea will appear in Bergamo? Their previous Champions League performance was a statement, an emphatic 3-0 victory over Barcelona which was a high point in their manager's tenure. However, form has proven unpredictable since then. A solid tie with Arsenal was followed by a loss away to Leeds United, followed by a dour draw on the south coast means they arrive with momentum sapped.
They face a dangerous Atalanta who are level on points alongside them. La Dea endured a 4-0 loss in their first game at PSG but have gone undefeated in Europe since, defying somewhat mid-table domestic form.
Tottenham's Test
Similar to their rivals, Tottenham have been famously inconsistent. A heavy loss in Paris, sandwiched between disappointing losses to Arsenal and Fulham, piled pressure on manager the Danish coach. But, recent domestic outings – four points from six – have provided a measure of calm.
This evening, they welcome Czech opponents yet to win in the competition. These are precisely the kind of fixture which Spurs need to be won for any hopes to climb into the top eight, especially with forthcoming games versus Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt still to come.
The Evening's Other Games
The action is not limited to those two matches. In a key encounter, Barcelona will aim to respond after their loss when they host the German side. At the same time, high-flying PSV Eindhoven pose a major challenge to the defence of Atlético Madrid. Finally, AS Monaco entertains Galatasaray in an encounter that has all the makings of a potential high-scoring affair. Every game begin this evening.
A pivotal night for the tournament standings is upon us, with teams striving to secure their path into the latter stages.
