🔗 Share this article

At a Glance

• The Chelsea forward gives Chelsea the lead in the first half.
• Atalanta the better side after the interval and draw level through Gianluca Scamacca.
• The Belgian attacker scores a late decisive goal for the hosts.
• The defeat means Chelsea slide to 11th in the group stage of the tournament.
• The leading eight teams progress automatically for the last 16.

Chelsea's ambitions of qualifying automatically for the European Cup knockouts were hit hard as their Italian opponents overturned a deficit to win in Bergamo.

Both sides entered this game with identical records in the league phase of this season's competition, having secured three victories, drawn, and lost to have accrued ten points.

For large parts there was little to distinguish them in this encounter too, even though Chelsea took the lead in the opening 45 minutes when Joao Pedro finished the captain's delivery.

But Atalanta remained a danger going forward, with ex- Premier League attacker Ademola Lookman issues for the backline.

Reece James shot wide in the second half but the home team upped the pressure and justly levelled when former West Ham United striker headed in a cross.

The winger hammered a strong effort straight at the keeper but they secured the winning goal in the closing stages when the Blues defenders backed off Charles de Ketelaere, who seized the opportunity with a powerful strike.

Chelsea tried to rescue a point late on but a brilliant stop by the Atalanta goalkeeper kept out Pedro.

The final score means Chelsea drop out of the automatic qualification places—the positions that qualify automatically for the next round—to 11th with two group stage fixtures left to play.

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

Blues Breakdown - Concerning Sequence Continues

This was a extremely disappointing outcome for Chelsea as even a draw was leaving them in a strong position to achieve the top eight finish they require to avoid the uncertainty of the play-offs.

But they lost focus in their defensive duties with seven minutes remaining 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 tough test for the visitors, but they will be disappointed to be departing with no points after taking the early advantage.

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

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

Too Many Rotations Proving Costly?

Manager Enzo Enzo Maresca enacted five changes for this match as he persisted with his policy of rotating players in and out of the starting 11.

The changes here followed 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 Atalanta.

Maresca will view squad rotation as essential as he tries to handle players' fitness and compete both at home and in Europe, but he maintained the core group of players stays the unchanged for important games.

"I think in this match [in] the first XI we had eight or nine players who featured against Tottenham, FC Barcelona, and the Gunners," he said.

"If you see the five alterations that we made compared to the previous game it may be a change but it involves the eight or nine players playing Barcelona.

"The ones who took to the field tonight are the individuals playing almost all the games."

What's Next for These Clubs?

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

The Italian team, on the other hand, host Athletic Bilbao at the identical kick-off time.