🔗 Share this article

At a Glance

• The Chelsea forward hands Chelsea the advantage in the opening period.
• Atalanta the better side after the interval and draw level through the striker.
• The Belgian attacker nets a late winner for the home side.
• The defeat means Chelsea drop to 11th in the group stage of the tournament.
• The top eight progress automatically for the knockouts.

Chelsea's chances of qualifying automatically for the Champions League knockout stages were suffered a setback as Atalanta overturned a deficit to claim victory in their home stadium.

Each club entered this fixture with the same records in the initial stage of this season's competition, having secured three victories, tied one, and suffered one defeat to sit on 10 points.

For much of the game there was little to choose between them in this encounter too, even though Chelsea went ahead in the opening 45 minutes when Joao Pedro turned in the captain's cross.

But Atalanta remained a danger going on the attack, with ex- Premier League attacker creating issues for the defence.

James fired wide in the second half but the home team upped the pressure and justly drew level when ex-West Ham striker headed in a cross.

The winger drove a powerful shot straight at the keeper but Atalanta secured the winner in the closing stages when the Blues defenders retreated from Charles de Ketelaere, who took full advantage with a driven strike.

The visitors attempted to rescue a draw late on but a excellent stop by the Atalanta goalkeeper denied Joao Pedro.

The final score means Chelsea drop out of the automatic qualification places—the spots that progress automatically for the knockouts—to 11th with two group stage fixtures left to play.

Atalanta, meanwhile, leap 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 leaving them well placed to secure the top-eight finish they need to avoid the uncertainty of the play-offs.

But they let their concentration slip in defence with seven minutes remaining and their opponents took full advantage.

The Italian side are in fine fettle at the moment so this was always going to be a tough examination for the visitors, but they will be disappointed to be leaving with nothing after securing the lead.

But the broader context is that this continues Chelsea's worrying streak of results in all tournaments.

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

Too Many Changes Proving Costly?

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca made five changes for this match as he persisted with his run of moving players in and out of the first team.

The rotations here came after he implemented the identical amount for the loss to Leeds and six for the tie with Bournemouth prior to the journey to Bergamo.

Maresca will view rotation as necessary as he attempts to manage players' fitness and compete both at domestically and abroad, but he insisted the core group of players stays the unchanged for crucial games.

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

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

"The players who took to the field this evening are the ones who feature in almost all the matches."

Up Next for These Sides?

Chelsea's next European fixture sees them welcome the Cypriot side on Wednesday, 21 January (8pm GMT).

Atalanta, on the other hand, are at home to Athletic Bilbao at the same time.