Atalanta Faces Chelsea, Tottenham Hosts The Czech Side – An Evening of Champions League Action
All eyes turns to an important evening in the Champions League. A pair of fascinating fixtures headline the lineup, as sides fighting for crucial points as the group phase continues.
The Chelsea Conundrum
Which iteration of the London club will appear on Italian soil? Their previous Champions League performance was a statement, an emphatic three-goal win over the Catalan giants that stood as a peak in their manager's tenure. However, form has been elusive afterwards. A solid tie with their London rivals was followed by a loss away to Leeds United, and a dour draw at Bournemouth has left them with momentum sapped.
They face a tricky Atalanta that sits level on points alongside them. The Italian side endured a heavy loss in their first game in Paris yet have remained unbeaten on the continent since, contrasting somewhat modest results in Serie A.
A Must-Win for Tottenham
Similar to their London counterparts, Ange Postecoglou's side have been notoriously unreliable. A heavy loss in Paris, coming between disappointing losses in the Premier League, piled pressure on boss the Danish coach. However, recent league results – a win and a draw available – have provided a measure of calm.
This evening, they host Czech opponents still searching for their first victory in the competition. These are exactly the type of fixture which Spurs need to secure three points from for any hopes to climb towards the knockout places, particularly given forthcoming games versus Borussia Dortmund and Frankfurt still to come.
The Evening's Other Games
The drama is not limited to England and Italy. In a key encounter, the Blaugrana will aim to respond from their defeat as they welcome Eintracht Frankfurt. At the same time, high-flying PSV pose a major challenge for the defence of Diego Simeone's team. Finally, AS Monaco hosts Galatasaray in a match which promises of a potential high-scoring affair. Every game begin at 8pm GMT.
A crucial night in the group stage is upon us, with teams striving to secure their path towards the knockout rounds.
