Atalanta Takes On The Blues, Spurs Welcomes The Czech Side – An Evening of European Action
The focus turns to an important round of continental clashes. A pair of fascinating encounters headline the schedule, as sides competing for vital standings as the group phase continues.
The Chelsea Conundrum
What version of Chelsea will show up in Bergamo? Their last European performance was a statement, a comprehensive three-goal win against the Catalan giants which was a peak in Enzo Maresca's tenure. Yet, form has been elusive since then. A solid draw against Arsenal came before a defeat at Leeds, followed by a lackluster draw on the south coast has left them with momentum sapped.
Awaiting them is a dangerous Atalanta that sits level on points alongside them. The Italian side endured a heavy loss in their first game at PSG yet have gone undefeated in Europe since, defying their modest domestic form.
A Must-Win for Tottenham
Similar to their rivals, Tottenham can be famously unreliable. A heavy defeat in Paris, coming between disappointing losses to Arsenal and Fulham, piled pressure on manager Thomas Frank. However, the last two domestic outings – a win and a draw available – have provided some stability.
This evening, they host a Slavia Prague side still searching for their first victory in the competition. This is exactly the type of fixture which Spurs need to be won if they are to climb into the top eight, particularly given upcoming games versus Borussia Dortmund and Frankfurt still to come.
Other Key Fixtures
The action is not limited to those two matches. In a notable game, Barcelona will aim to bounce back from their defeat when they host Eintracht Frankfurt. At the same time, high-flying PSV Eindhoven will provide a major challenge to the backline of Diego Simeone's team. Finally, Monaco entertains Galatasaray in an encounter which promises of a potential high-scoring affair. Every game begin at 8pm GMT.
A pivotal night in the group stage awaits, with teams fighting for their path into the latter stages.
