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Match Summary

• The Chelsea forward hands Chelsea the advantage in the opening period.
• Atalanta the stronger side after the break and equalise through the striker.
• Charles de Ketelaere grabs a late winner for the home side.
• The defeat means Chelsea drop to 11th in the league phase of the tournament.
• The leading eight teams progress automatically for the last 16.

Chelsea's ambitions of securing a place automatically for the Champions League knockouts were suffered a setback as Atalanta fought back to triumph in Bergamo.

The two teams went into this match with identical records in the initial stage of this season's competition, having secured three victories, drawn, and lost to be on ten points.

For much of the game there was not much to separate them in this encounter too, even though Chelsea went ahead in the opening 45 minutes when the Brazilian finished Reece James' cross.

But The Serie A side always looked a threat going forward, with former Premier League attacker creating problems for the defence.

Reece James shot wide in the after the break but the home team upped the pressure and justly levelled when former West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca a centering pass.

Alejandro Garnacho drove a powerful shot straight at the keeper but Atalanta got the winner in the closing stages when the Blues defence retreated from the midfielder, who made no mistake with a low strike.

Chelsea tried to rescue a point in stoppage time but a brilliant stop by Marco Carnesecchi denied Joao Pedro.

The outcome means Chelsea drop out of the automatic qualification places—the spots that progress automatically for the knockouts—to 11th with two league phase fixtures remaining.

Atalanta, meanwhile, climb up to third, three points clear of the Blues.

Chelsea Analysis - Worrying Run Continues

This was a hugely disappointing result for Chelsea as even a point was leaving them well placed to achieve the top eight position they need to avoid the uncertainty of the play-offs.

But they lacked concentration in defence with seven minutes left on the clock and their opponents capitalised completely.

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

But the bigger picture is that this extends Chelsea's worrying streak of results in all tournaments.

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

Too Many Changes Turning Out to Be Costly?

Manager Enzo Enzo Maresca enacted five alterations for this game as he persisted with his run of moving players in and out of the first team.

The changes here followed after he made the same number for the loss to Leeds United and six for the draw with Bournemouth prior to the trip to Atalanta.

Maresca will see squad rotation as necessary as he tries to manage players' workloads and challenge both at home and in Europe, but he stated the key nucleus of players remains the unchanged for crucial fixtures.

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

"If you see the five alterations that we made compared to Bournemouth it is different but it is the eight or nine players who played Barcelona.

"The players who took to the field tonight are the individuals who feature in almost all the matches."

What Next for These Teams?

The Blues' next Champions League game sees them host the Cypriot side on the coming Wednesday (8pm GMT).

The Italian team, meanwhile, host Athletic Club at the identical kick-off time.