🔗 Share this article

Key Moments

• The Chelsea forward hands Chelsea the lead in the opening period.
• Atalanta the stronger side after the interval and draw level through the striker.
• Charles de Ketelaere scores a late winner for the home side.
• Loss means Chelsea drop to 11th in the group stage of the Champions League.
• The top eight qualify automatically for the last 16.

The London club's hopes of securing a place automatically for the Champions League knockouts were dealt a blow as their Italian opponents came from behind to triumph in Bergamo.

Each club went into this fixture with the same records in the initial stage of this season's competition, having won, tied one, and lost to sit on ten points.

For extended periods there was little to separate them in this encounter too, although Chelsea got their noses in front in the opening 45 minutes when Joao Pedro turned in the captain's delivery.

But Atalanta consistently appeared a danger going forwards, with former Charlton and Everton attacker creating issues for the defence.

James fired wide in the after the break but Atalanta upped the intensity and rightfully levelled when ex-West Ham striker headed in a cross.

The winger hammered a strong effort straight at the goalkeeper but Atalanta got the winner late on when the Blues defenders backed off Charles de Ketelaere, who took full advantage with a driven finish.

Chelsea tried to salvage a point in stoppage time but a superb stop by Marco Carnesecchi denied Pedro.

The outcome means Chelsea slip out of the automatic qualification places—the spots that progress automatically for the knockouts—to 11th with two group stage games left to play.

Atalanta, in contrast, climb up to third place, three points clear of the Londoners.

Blues Breakdown - Worrying Run Persists

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

But they lost focus in defence with seven minutes left on the clock and Atalanta seized the moment.

The Italians are in good form at the moment so this was always going to be a difficult test for the Blues, but they will be annoyed to be leaving with no points after taking the lead.

But the bigger picture is that this extends Chelsea's concerning run of form in all tournaments.

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

Excessive Rotations Turning Out to Be Costly?

Chelsea boss Maresca enacted five changes for this game as he continued his policy of moving players in and out of the starting 11.

The changes here came after he implemented the identical amount for the loss to Leeds United and six for the draw with AFC Bournemouth prior to the journey to Bergamo.

Maresca will view rotation as essential as he attempts to handle players' minutes and challenge both at domestically and in Europe, but he stated the key nucleus of players stays the unchanged for important games.

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

"If you see the five alterations that we did relative to Bournemouth it may be a change but it is the eight or nine players playing Barcelona.

"The players who played this evening are the individuals who feature in almost all the games."

Up Next for These Clubs?

The Blues' next Champions League game sees them welcome the Cypriot side on Wednesday, 21 January (8pm GMT).

The Italian team, meanwhile, are at home to Athletic Bilbao at the identical kick-off time.