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Match Summary

• Joao Pedro hands Chelsea the lead in the first half.
• Atalanta the stronger side after the break and draw level through the striker.
• The Belgian attacker grabs a late winner for the hosts.
• Loss means Chelsea drop to 11th in the group stage of the Champions League.
• The top eight progress automatically for the knockouts.

The London club's chances of qualifying automatically for the Champions League knockout stages were hit hard as Atalanta came from behind to win in Bergamo.

The two teams entered this match with identical records in the league phase of this year's competition, having secured three victories, tied one, and lost to sit on 10 points.

For much of the game there was not much to distinguish them in this encounter too, although Chelsea went ahead in the first half when Joao Pedro finished Reece James' cross.

But Atalanta always looked a threat going forwards, with ex- Charlton and Everton attacker causing issues for the backline.

Reece James shot wide in the after the break but the home team raised the pressure and rightfully levelled when ex-West Ham striker headed in a centering pass.

The winger drove a powerful shot straight at the keeper but they got the winning goal late on when the Chelsea defence retreated from Charles de Ketelaere, who made no mistake with a low strike.

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

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

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

Blues Breakdown - Concerning Run Persists

This was a extremely frustrating outcome for Chelsea as even a point was leaving them well placed to achieve the top-eight finish they require to avoid the uncertainty of the qualifying play-off round.

But they lost focus in defence with seven minutes remaining and their opponents took full advantage.

The Italians are in fine fettle at the moment so this was always going to be a challenging examination for the visitors, but they will be disappointed to be leaving with no points after securing the lead.

But the broader context is that this perpetuates Chelsea's worrying sequence of form in all competitions.

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

Excessive Changes Proving Expensive?

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

The rotations here came after he made the identical amount for the defeat to Leeds and six for the draw with AFC Bournemouth prior to the journey to Bergamo.

Maresca will view rotation as essential as he attempts to manage players' minutes and compete both at domestically and in Europe, but he insisted the central contingent of players remains the same for key games.

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

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

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

Up Next for These Teams?

The Blues' next European game sees them welcome Pafos on Wednesday, 21 January (8pm GMT).

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