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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 grabs a last-gasp decisive goal for the hosts.
• Loss means Chelsea slide to eleventh place in the group stage of the Champions League.
• The leading eight teams progress automatically for the knockouts.

Chelsea's ambitions of qualifying automatically for the European Cup knockouts were dealt a blow as Atalanta came from behind to triumph in their home stadium.

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

For large parts there was very little to separate them in this encounter too, even though Chelsea got their noses in front in the opening 45 minutes when the Brazilian finished Reece James' cross.

But The Serie A side consistently appeared a threat going forward, with ex- Charlton and Everton attacker creating problems for the backline.

James shot wide in the second half but Atalanta upped the pressure and rightfully equalised when former West Ham United striker nodded home a cross.

Alejandro Garnacho hammered a strong effort straight at the keeper but Atalanta scored the winner late on when the Blues defenders retreated from the midfielder, who seized the opportunity with a powerful shot.

Chelsea attempted to salvage a draw late on but a superb stop by Marco Carnesecchi denied Joao Pedro.

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

Atalanta, meanwhile, leap up to third place, three points clear of the Londoners.

Chelsea Analysis - Worrying Run Continues

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

But they lacked concentration in their defensive duties 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 visitors, but they will be annoyed to be departing with nothing after taking the early advantage.

But the broader context is that this perpetuates Chelsea's troubling sequence 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 games.

Too Many Changes Proving Expensive?

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca made five alterations for this match as he continued his policy of rotating players in and out of the starting 11.

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

Maresca will view rotation as essential as he tries to manage players' fitness and challenge both at domestically and in Europe, but he maintained the core group of players stays the same for crucial fixtures.

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

"If you look at the five alterations that we made relative to Bournemouth it may be a change but it involves the eight or nine players playing in that match.

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

Up Next for These Teams?

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

Atalanta, meanwhile, host Athletic Bilbao at the identical kick-off time.