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Match Summary

• Joao Pedro gives Chelsea the advantage in the opening period.
• Atalanta the stronger side after the break and equalise through Gianluca Scamacca.
• Charles de Ketelaere nets a late winner for the hosts.
• The defeat means Chelsea fall to 11th in the league phase of the tournament.
• The leading eight teams qualify automatically for the knockout phase.

The London club's hopes of qualifying automatically for the Champions League knockouts were dealt a blow as their Italian opponents fought back to triumph in Bergamo.

The two teams went into this match with the same records in the league phase of this season's competition, having won, tied one, and suffered one defeat to have accrued 10 points.

For extended periods there was very little to choose between them in this encounter too, although Chelsea took the lead in the opening 45 minutes when the Brazilian finished the captain's delivery.

But The Serie A side consistently appeared a danger going forwards, with ex- Charlton and Everton attacker creating issues for the backline.

Reece James fired wide in the second half but Atalanta raised the intensity and rightfully drew level when ex-West Ham striker headed in a centering pass.

Alejandro Garnacho hammered a strong effort straight at the keeper but Atalanta secured the winner late on when the Blues defenders retreated from Charles de Ketelaere, who made no mistake with a low shot.

The visitors attempted to salvage a point late on but a excellent save by Marco Carnesecchi kept out Pedro.

The outcome means Chelsea fall out of the automatic qualification places—the positions that progress automatically for the next round—to 11th with two group stage games left to play.

The Bergamo club, meanwhile, jump up to third place, three points ahead of the Blues.

Blues Breakdown - Concerning Form Continues

This was a hugely frustrating result for Chelsea as even a draw was keeping them in a strong position to achieve the top-eight finish they require to bypass the uncertainty of the play-offs.

But they let their concentration slip in their defensive duties with seven minutes left on the clock and Atalanta seized the moment.

The Italian side are in rich vein of form at the moment so this was always going to be a difficult examination for the visitors, but they will be annoyed to be departing with no points after taking the early advantage.

But the wider issue is that this perpetuates Chelsea's concerning run of results in all tournaments.

Since defeating Barcelona 3-0 at the end of November they are now winless in their last four games.

Excessive Rotations Proving Costly?

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca made five changes for this game as he continued his strategy of moving players in and out of the first team.

The changes here came after he made the same number for the loss to Leeds United and six for the tie with AFC Bournemouth prior to the trip to Bergamo.

The coach will view rotation as necessary as he attempts to handle players' minutes and challenge both at home and in Europe, but he insisted the key nucleus of players stays the unchanged for crucial games.

"I think in this match [in] the first XI we had eight or nine players who played against Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona, and Arsenal," he stated.

"If you look at the five changes that we made relative to the previous game it may be different but it is the same eight or nine players who played Barcelona.

"The ones who played this evening are the ones playing almost all the matches."

Up Next for These Clubs?

Chelsea's next Champions League fixture sees them host the Cypriot side on Wednesday, 21 January (8pm GMT).

Atalanta, meanwhile, are at home to Athletic Club at the identical kick-off time.