Bergamo's Team Hosts Chelsea, Tottenham Welcomes Slavia Prague – An Evening of Champions League Action
All eyes is on an important evening in the Champions League. A pair of fascinating fixtures take center stage in the schedule, with sides competing for vital standings as the group phase continues.
The Chelsea Conundrum
Which iteration of Chelsea will show up on Italian soil? Their last Champions League performance served as a declaration, a comprehensive three-goal win against the Catalan giants which was a peak for Enzo Maresca's tenure. However, results has proven elusive since then. A credible tie with their London rivals came before a defeat at Leeds, followed by a dour draw at Bournemouth means they arrive with momentum drained.
They face a dangerous opponent who are level on points with them. La Dea suffered a 4-0 opening defeat in Paris but have gone undefeated in Europe ever since, contrasting somewhat mid-table results in Serie A.
Tottenham's Test
Similar to their London counterparts, Tottenham have been notoriously inconsistent. A heavy defeat in Paris, sandwiched between painful losses to Arsenal and Fulham, had increased pressure on manager the Danish coach. But, the last two domestic outings – a win and a draw available – have provided some stability.
Tonight, they host Czech opponents yet to win in this year's tournament. These are exactly the type of fixture which Spurs need to secure three points from for any hopes to climb towards the knockout places, especially with forthcoming challenges versus Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt still to come.
The Evening's Other Games
The action extends beyond those two matches. In a notable game, Barcelona will look to respond after their loss as they welcome the German side. At the same time, high-flying PSV Eindhoven pose a major challenge for the backline of Diego Simeone's team. Rounding out the night, Monaco entertains the Turkish champions in an encounter that has all the makings to be a high-scoring affair. All matches kick off at 8pm GMT.
A crucial evening in the group stage is upon us, as clubs fighting to secure a route into the latter stages.
