2 days ago
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Preamble
Which Chelsea will we see tonight in Bergamo? Last time out in the Champions League, they dispatched Barcelona 3-0 in a high watermark for Enzo Maresca’s reign. They followed that up with a creditable draw at home to Arsenal – then went to Elland Road and were well beaten.
Saturday’s dour draw at Bournemouth means they arrive in Italy with momentum sapped, and face a dangerous opponent sitting level on points in Uefa’s big league ladder. Atalanta lost their opener 4-0 at PSG but are unbeaten in Europe since, defying their deeply mid-table league form.
Much like their cross-town rivals, Tottenham can only be relied upon to be unreliable. A 5-3 defeat in Paris, sandwiched between painful losses to Arsenal and Fulham, put Thomas Frank under pressure – but four points from six in the Premier League have steadied the ship.
In town tonight are winless Slavia Prague, the kind of opponents that simply must be put away if Spurs are to claw their way to a top-eight finish, with games against Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt to come.
Elsewhere, Barça look to bounce back at home to Frankfurt, free-scoring PSV will test Atlético Madrid’s defence, and Monaco host Galatasaray in a game that feels like it could be any score at all. Kick-offs: 8pm (GMT).
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