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All eyes turns to a crucial night of European football. Two compelling encounters headline the schedule, as sides battling for crucial points in the group stage.

Chelsea's Inconsistent Form

What version of Chelsea will we see on Italian soil? Their previous Champions League outing was a statement, a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Barcelona which was a peak in their manager's reign. Yet, form has been unpredictable afterwards. A credible tie with their London rivals was followed by a defeat away to Leeds United, followed by a dour draw on the south coast means they arrive with momentum sapped.

Awaiting them is a tricky opponent that sits tied in the standings alongside them. The Italian side suffered a heavy opening defeat at PSG but have gone undefeated in Europe ever since, defying their mid-table results in Serie A.

Tottenham's Test

Similar to their rivals, Ange Postecoglou's side have been famously unreliable. A 5-3 loss away to PSG, sandwiched between disappointing defeats to Arsenal and Fulham, piled pressure on manager the Danish coach. However, the last two domestic outings – a win and a draw from six – have offered some stability.

Tonight, they welcome a Slavia Prague side still searching for their first victory in the competition. This is exactly the type of fixture which Spurs need to be won for any hopes to climb into the top eight, particularly given forthcoming games against Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt still to come.

Elsewhere Across Europe

The drama extends beyond England and Italy. One notable game, Barcelona will look to bounce back from their defeat as they welcome the German side. At the same time, high-flying PSV will provide a major challenge to the defence of Diego Simeone's team. Finally, Monaco entertains the Turkish champions in an encounter that has all the makings of a potential goal-fest. All matches kick off this evening.

A pivotal night for the tournament standings is upon us, with teams striving for their path towards the knockout rounds.