🔗 Share this article

Key Moments

• The Chelsea forward gives Chelsea the advantage in the opening period.
• The Italian outfit the stronger side after the break and draw level through Gianluca Scamacca.
• Charles de Ketelaere scores a last-gasp winner for the home side.
• The defeat means Chelsea drop to 11th in the league phase of the tournament.
• The top eight progress automatically for the knockout phase.

Chelsea's hopes of securing a place automatically for the Champions League knockouts were dealt a blow as their Italian opponents came from behind to win in their home stadium.

The two teams went into this game with identical points tallies in the league phase of this season's tournament, having won, tied one, and suffered one defeat to sit on 10 points.

For large parts there was not much to distinguish them in this encounter too, although Chelsea went ahead in the opening 45 minutes when Joao Pedro turned in Reece James' cross.

But Atalanta consistently appeared a threat going forwards, with ex- Premier League attacker creating problems for the backline.

James shot wide in the after the break but Atalanta increased the pressure and deservedly levelled when former West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca a centering pass.

The winger drove a powerful shot straight at the goalkeeper but Atalanta secured the winner late on when the Blues defenders backed off the midfielder, who seized the opportunity with a low finish.

The visitors attempted to salvage a point late on but a excellent stop by the Atalanta goalkeeper kept out Joao Pedro.

The result means Chelsea slip out of the top eight—the spots that qualify automatically for the next round—to eleventh with two group stage games left to play.

The Bergamo club, in contrast, climb up to third, three points ahead of the Londoners.

Chelsea Analysis - Worrying Sequence Persists

This was a deeply disappointing outcome for Chelsea as even a point was leaving them well placed to achieve the top eight finish they need to bypass the uncertainty of the qualifying play-off round.

But they let their concentration slip in their defensive duties with seven minutes remaining and Atalanta took full advantage.

The Italians are in good form at the moment so this was always going to be a challenging examination for the Blues, but they will be disappointed to be leaving with nothing after taking the lead.

But the wider issue is that this extends Chelsea's concerning streak of form in all tournaments.

Since beating the Spanish giants 3-0 at the end of November they are now without a win in their last four matches.

Too Many Rotations Proving Expensive?

Manager Enzo Enzo Maresca made five alterations for this game as he persisted with his policy of rotating players in and out of the first team.

The changes here followed after he made the same number for the defeat to Leeds United and six for the tie with Bournemouth prior to the journey to Bergamo.

Maresca will view squad rotation as necessary as he attempts to manage players' workloads and challenge both at home and in Europe, but he insisted the central contingent of players remains the same for crucial fixtures.

"I believe in this match [in] the starting lineup we had eight or nine players who featured against Tottenham Hotspur, FC Barcelona, and Arsenal," he said.

"If you see the five changes that we made relative to the previous game it may be a change but it involves the same eight or nine players who played Barcelona.

"The ones who took to the field this evening are the ones playing almost all the games."

What Next for These Clubs?

The Blues' next Champions League game sees them host the Cypriot side on Wednesday, 21 January (20:00 GMT).

The Italian team, meanwhile, are at home to Athletic Bilbao at the same time.