🔗 Share this article

At a Glance

• Joao Pedro hands Chelsea the lead in the opening period.
• Atalanta the stronger side after the interval and equalise through the striker.
• Charles de Ketelaere nets a late decisive goal for the hosts.
• The defeat means Chelsea fall to eleventh place in the group stage of the Champions League.
• The top eight qualify automatically for the knockouts.

Chelsea's ambitions of securing a place automatically for the Champions League knockouts were suffered a setback as Atalanta came from behind to claim victory in their home stadium.

The two teams entered this fixture with identical records in the initial stage of this season's tournament, having secured three victories, tied one, and suffered one defeat to sit on 10 points.

For much of the game there was very little to choose between them in this encounter too, even though Chelsea took the lead in the first half when the Brazilian turned in the captain's delivery.

But Atalanta remained a danger going forward, with former Premier League attacker causing problems for the backline.

Reece James shot wide in the second half but Atalanta raised the pressure and justly levelled when former West Ham United striker nodded home a centering pass.

The winger drove a powerful shot straight at the goalkeeper but they got the winning goal late on when the Chelsea defenders backed off Charles de Ketelaere, who made no mistake with a driven strike.

Chelsea tried to rescue a point in stoppage time but a brilliant save 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 eleventh with two league phase matches remaining.

Atalanta, meanwhile, jump up to third place, three points clear of the Blues.

Chelsea Analysis - Concerning Form Continues

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

But they lost focus in defence with seven minutes remaining and their opponents capitalised completely.

The Italians are in rich vein of form at the moment so this was always going to be a difficult test for the visitors, but they will be disappointed to be leaving with nothing after securing the early advantage.

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

Since defeating the Spanish giants 3-0 at the end of November they are now winless in their last four games.

Too Many Rotations Proving Expensive?

Chelsea boss Maresca enacted five changes for this match as he continued his policy of rotating players in and out of the first team.

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

Maresca will see squad rotation as vital as he tries to handle players' fitness and challenge both at home and in Europe, but he maintained the core group of players stays the same for important games.

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

"If you see the five alterations that we made compared to the previous game it is a change but it is the eight or nine players who played in that match.

"The ones who played this evening are the ones playing almost all the matches."

What's Next for These Sides?

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

The Italian team, meanwhile, are at home to Athletic Club at the same time.