🔗 Share this article

At a Glance

• The Chelsea forward hands Chelsea the advantage in the opening period.
• The Italian outfit the stronger side after the break and equalise through the striker.
• Charles de Ketelaere nets a late winner for the home side.
• The defeat means Chelsea slide to 11th in the group stage of the tournament.
• The leading eight teams progress automatically for the knockouts.

The London club's chances of qualifying automatically for the Champions League knockouts were dealt a blow as their Italian opponents came from behind to triumph in Bergamo.

The two teams went into this match with matching points tallies in the initial stage of this year's competition, having won, tied one, and suffered one defeat to sit on ten points.

For much of the game there was not much to separate them in this contest too, although Chelsea went ahead in the opening 45 minutes when the Brazilian converted the captain's cross.

But The Serie A side remained a danger going forward, with former Charlton and Everton attacker causing issues for the defence.

James shot wide in the after the break but Atalanta increased the pressure and justly equalised when ex-West Ham striker headed in a cross.

Alejandro Garnacho hammered a strong effort straight at the goalkeeper but they scored the winner in the closing stages when the Blues defenders backed off the midfielder, who seized the opportunity with a low strike.

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

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

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

Blues Breakdown - Concerning Form Persists

This was a hugely disappointing outcome for Chelsea as even a draw was leaving them well placed to secure the top-eight finish they require to bypass the uncertainty of the play-offs.

But they let their concentration slip in their defensive duties with seven minutes remaining and Atalanta took full advantage.

The Italians are in rich vein of form at the moment so this was always going to be a difficult examination for the visitors, but they will be disappointed to be departing with nothing after taking the lead.

But the bigger picture is that this continues Chelsea's worrying run of results in all competitions.

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

Excessive Rotations Proving Expensive?

Manager Enzo Enzo Maresca made five changes for this match as he persisted with his policy of rotating players in and out of the first team.

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

Maresca will view rotation as essential as he tries to handle players' fitness and compete both at home and in Europe, but he stated the central contingent of players remains the unchanged for key fixtures.

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

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

"The players who played tonight are the individuals playing almost all the games."

What Next for These Sides?

The Blues' next European fixture sees them welcome Pafos on the coming Wednesday (8pm GMT).

Atalanta, meanwhile, host Athletic Bilbao at the same time.