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Match Summary

• The Chelsea forward gives Chelsea the lead in the opening period.
• Atalanta the stronger side after the interval and equalise through Gianluca Scamacca.
• Charles de Ketelaere grabs a late decisive goal for the home side.
• Loss means Chelsea drop to 11th in the group stage of the Champions League.
• The top eight qualify automatically for the knockout phase.

Chelsea's hopes of qualifying automatically for the Champions League knockout stages were hit hard as their Italian opponents fought back to win in Bergamo.

Both sides went into this match with identical points tallies in the league phase of this year's competition, having won, drawn, and suffered one defeat to sit on ten points.

For extended periods there was not much to separate them in this encounter too, although Chelsea got their noses in front in the opening 45 minutes when the Brazilian finished the captain's delivery.

But Atalanta remained a threat going forwards, with former Premier League attacker creating issues for the backline.

Reece James shot wide in the after the break but the home team increased the pressure and rightfully levelled when ex-West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca a cross.

The winger hammered a powerful shot straight at the keeper but Atalanta got the winner late on when the Chelsea defence backed off Charles de Ketelaere, who took full advantage with a powerful finish.

The visitors tried to salvage a point late on but a excellent save by Marco Carnesecchi kept out Joao Pedro.

The outcome means Chelsea fall out of the top eight—the positions that progress automatically for the knockouts—to 11th with two league phase fixtures left to play.

Atalanta, in contrast, climb up to third, three points ahead of the Londoners.

Chelsea Analysis - Worrying Form Continues

This was a hugely frustrating outcome for Chelsea as even a draw was keeping them well placed to achieve the top eight finish they require to bypass the lottery of the qualifying play-off round.

But they lost focus in defence with seven minutes left on the clock and their opponents seized the moment.

The Italians are in rich vein of form at the moment so this was always going to be a tough test for the Blues, but they will be frustrated to be departing with no points after securing the lead.

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

Since beating the Spanish giants 3-0 at the close of November they are now winless in their last four matches.

Too Many Rotations Turning Out to Be Costly?

Manager Enzo Enzo Maresca made five alterations for this game as he continued his run of moving players in and out of the starting lineup.

The changes here followed after he made 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 see rotation as vital as he tries to manage players' workloads and challenge both at domestically and in Europe, but he stated the central contingent of players remains the unchanged for important fixtures.

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

"If you look at the five changes that we made compared to Bournemouth it is different but it involves the eight or nine players who played Barcelona.

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

What's Next for These Clubs?

The Blues' next Champions League fixture sees them welcome Pafos on Wednesday, 21 January (20:00 GMT).

The Italian team, on the other hand, host Athletic Club at the same time.