Bergamo's Team Hosts Chelsea, Tottenham Hosts Slavia Prague – An Evening of Champions League Football
The focus turns to an important evening in the Champions League. A pair of intriguing matches headline the schedule, as sides fighting for important points as the group phase continues.
The Chelsea Conundrum
What version of the London club will show up on Italian soil? Their last Champions League performance served as a declaration, a comprehensive 3-0 victory against Barcelona which was a peak for their manager's reign. Yet, results has been unpredictable afterwards. A solid draw against their London rivals came before a defeat away to Leeds United, followed by a lackluster stalemate at Bournemouth has left them with momentum drained.
They face a tricky opponent who are tied in the standings with them. La Dea endured a heavy opening defeat in Paris but have gone undefeated in Europe ever since, defying their mid-table results in Serie A.
Spurs Seeking Consistency
Similar to their London counterparts, Ange Postecoglou's side have been notoriously unreliable. A heavy loss away to PSG, sandwiched between disappointing losses in the Premier League, piled pressure on manager the Danish coach. However, the last two league results – a win and a draw from six – have provided a measure of calm.
Tonight, they welcome a Slavia Prague side still searching for their first victory in the competition. These are precisely the kind of match that simply must secure three points from if they are of climbing into the top eight, particularly given forthcoming games against Borussia Dortmund and Frankfurt still to come.
Other Key Fixtures
The drama is not limited to those two matches. One key encounter, Barcelona will aim to respond from their defeat when they host the German side. At the same time, high-flying PSV Eindhoven will provide a stern test to the backline of Diego Simeone's team. Finally, AS Monaco entertains the Turkish champions in an encounter that has all the makings of a potential high-scoring affair. Every game begin this evening.
A pivotal evening in the group stage awaits, as clubs fighting for their path towards the knockout rounds.
