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The focus turns to a crucial evening in the Champions League. Two fascinating encounters take center stage in the schedule, as teams fighting for important points as the group phase continues.

The Chelsea Conundrum

Which iteration of the London club will appear on Italian soil? Their last European performance served as a declaration, an emphatic 3-0 victory over the Catalan giants which was a peak for their manager's reign. However, form has proven elusive since then. A solid tie against their London rivals came before a loss at Leeds, and a lackluster draw at Bournemouth has left them with confidence drained.

They face a dangerous Atalanta that sits tied in the standings with them. La Dea suffered a 4-0 opening defeat in Paris but have remained unbeaten in Europe ever since, defying somewhat mid-table results in Serie A.

Tottenham's Test

Similar to their London counterparts, Tottenham can be famously unreliable. A heavy loss in Paris, sandwiched between disappointing losses to Arsenal and Fulham, piled scrutiny on manager the Danish coach. However, the last two domestic outings – four points from six – have provided a measure of calm.

This evening, they host a Slavia Prague side yet to win in the competition. This is precisely the kind of match that simply must be won if they are of climbing towards the knockout places, particularly given forthcoming games versus Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt on the horizon.

The Evening's Other Games

The action extends beyond those two matches. One key encounter, the Blaugrana will aim to bounce back after their loss when they host Eintracht Frankfurt. Meanwhile, free-scoring PSV pose a stern test to the defence of Diego Simeone's team. Finally, Monaco entertains the Turkish champions in a match which promises to be a high-scoring affair. Every game begin this evening.

A crucial evening in the group stage is upon us, as clubs fighting for a route towards the knockout rounds.