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Key Moments

• Joao Pedro hands Chelsea the advantage in the opening period.
• Atalanta the stronger side after the interval and equalise through Gianluca Scamacca.
• The Belgian attacker nets a late winner for the hosts.
• Loss means Chelsea fall to eleventh place in the group stage of the Champions League.
• The leading eight teams qualify automatically for the knockouts.

Chelsea's hopes 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 the same records in the league phase of this year's tournament, having won, tied one, and lost to be on 10 points.

For extended periods there was not much to choose between them in this contest too, even though Chelsea went ahead in the opening 45 minutes when Joao Pedro turned in Reece James' cross.

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

Reece James fired wide in the after the break but Atalanta increased the pressure and justly equalised when former West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca a centering pass.

Alejandro Garnacho drove a strong effort straight at the keeper but Atalanta secured the winner late on when the Chelsea defenders backed off Charles de Ketelaere, who took full advantage with a powerful shot.

Chelsea tried to rescue a point late on but a excellent save by Marco Carnesecchi denied Pedro.

The final score means Chelsea slip out of the automatic qualification places—the positions that qualify automatically for the knockouts—to 11th with two league phase matches remaining.

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

Chelsea Analysis - Worrying Run Persists

This was a hugely frustrating outcome for Chelsea as even a point was leaving them well placed to secure the top-eight position they need to avoid the uncertainty of the qualifying play-off round.

But they lacked concentration in defence with seven minutes left on the clock and Atalanta took full advantage.

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

But the wider issue is that this perpetuates Chelsea's worrying streak of results in all competitions.

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

Too Many Changes Turning Out to Be Costly?

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

The changes here came after he implemented the same number for the defeat to Leeds United and six for the tie with AFC Bournemouth prior to the journey to Bergamo.

The coach will view rotation as essential as he tries to manage players' fitness and compete both at domestically and abroad, but he insisted the key nucleus of players stays the same for important fixtures.

"I believe in this match [in] the starting lineup 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 did relative to Bournemouth it may be different but it is the same eight or nine players playing in that match.

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

What Next for These Teams?

The Blues' next Champions League fixture sees them welcome Pafos on Wednesday, 21 January (8pm GMT).

Atalanta, on the other hand, host Athletic Club at the identical kick-off time.