The focus shifts towards a pivotal night of European football. A pair of fascinating encounters take center stage in the lineup, with teams battling for crucial points in the group stage.
Chelsea's Inconsistent Form
Which iteration of Chelsea will we see in Bergamo? Their previous Champions League performance served as a declaration, a comprehensive 3-0 victory over the Catalan giants that stood as a peak in their manager's reign. Yet, results has been elusive since then. A solid draw against Arsenal came before a defeat at Leeds, followed by a lackluster draw at Bournemouth has left them with confidence drained.
They face a dangerous Atalanta that sits level on points alongside them. La Dea suffered a 4-0 opening defeat in Paris yet have gone undefeated on the continent ever since, defying their mid-table results in Serie A.
Tottenham's Test
Much like their London counterparts, Ange Postecoglou's side have been notoriously inconsistent. A 5-3 loss away to PSG, coming between disappointing defeats to Arsenal and Fulham, piled pressure on boss the Danish coach. But, the last two domestic outings – four points available – have offered a measure of calm.
This evening, they host Czech opponents still searching for their first victory in this year's tournament. These are exactly the type of match that simply must secure three points from if they are of climbing towards the knockout places, particularly given upcoming challenges versus Borussia Dortmund and Frankfurt still to come.
Elsewhere Across Europe
The drama extends beyond England and Italy. One notable game, Barcelona will aim to respond from their defeat when they host Eintracht Frankfurt. Meanwhile, high-flying PSV Eindhoven will provide a stern test to the backline of Diego Simeone's team. Finally, AS Monaco hosts the Turkish champions in a match that has all the makings of a potential high-scoring affair. All matches begin this evening.
A pivotal evening in the group stage is upon us, as clubs striving for a route into the latter stages.
