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All eyes turns to an important evening in the Champions League. A pair of intriguing fixtures headline the lineup, with teams battling for crucial points in the group stage.

The Chelsea Conundrum

Which iteration of Chelsea will show up in Bergamo? Their previous Champions League performance served as a declaration, an emphatic 3-0 victory over Barcelona which was a high point for Enzo Maresca's reign. Yet, form has proven elusive afterwards. A solid tie against their London rivals was followed by a loss at Leeds, and a dour stalemate at Bournemouth has left them with confidence sapped.

Awaiting them is a dangerous Atalanta that sits tied in the standings with them. La Dea suffered a heavy loss in their first game in Paris but have gone undefeated in Europe since, defying somewhat mid-table domestic form.

Tottenham's Test

Much like their rivals, Ange Postecoglou's side have been famously inconsistent. A 5-3 loss away to PSG, coming between disappointing defeats to Arsenal and Fulham, had increased scrutiny on boss Thomas Frank. But, the last two league results – four points from six – have offered a measure of calm.

This evening, they host a Slavia Prague side still searching for their first victory in the competition. These are exactly the type of fixture that simply must be won for any hopes to climb towards the knockout places, especially with forthcoming games against Borussia Dortmund and Frankfurt still to come.

Elsewhere Across Europe

The action extends beyond those two matches. One key encounter, Barcelona will aim to bounce back after their loss when they host Eintracht Frankfurt. At the same time, high-flying PSV will provide a stern test for the backline of Atlético Madrid. Rounding out the night, Monaco entertains the Turkish champions in a match which promises to be a high-scoring affair. All matches kick off at 8pm GMT.

A crucial night in the group stage awaits, with teams fighting to secure their path into the latter stages.