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Match Summary

• The Chelsea forward hands Chelsea the advantage in the opening period.
• Atalanta the stronger side after the break and draw level through the striker.
• Charles de Ketelaere grabs a last-gasp decisive goal for the hosts.
• Loss means Chelsea drop to 11th in the group stage of the Champions League.
• The top eight qualify automatically for the knockouts.

Chelsea's ambitions of qualifying automatically for the Champions League knockouts were hit hard as their Italian opponents came from behind to claim victory in Bergamo.

The two teams entered this game with matching records in the league phase of this season's competition, having won, 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, although Chelsea went ahead in the opening 45 minutes when Joao Pedro finished the captain's cross.

But Atalanta remained a danger going on the attack, with former Premier League attacker Ademola Lookman issues for the defence.

James fired wide in the second half but the home team raised the pressure and rightfully levelled when former West Ham United striker nodded home a cross.

Alejandro Garnacho drove a powerful shot straight at the goalkeeper but they scored the winning goal late on when the Blues defence backed off Charles de Ketelaere, who made no mistake with a driven strike.

The visitors tried to salvage a point in stoppage time but a superb stop by the Atalanta goalkeeper denied Joao Pedro.

The final score means Chelsea slip out of the automatic qualification places—the positions that progress automatically for the next round—to 11th with two league phase games remaining.

Atalanta, in contrast, climb up to third, three points clear of the Blues.

Chelsea Analysis - Concerning Form Persists

This was a deeply disappointing outcome for Chelsea as even a point was leaving them in a strong position to secure the top-eight position they need to avoid the uncertainty of the qualifying play-off round.

But they let their concentration slip in defence with seven minutes left on the clock and their opponents seized the moment.

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 departing with no points after taking the early advantage.

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

Since beating Barcelona 3-0 at the end of November they are now without a win in their last four outings.

Excessive Changes Turning Out to Be Costly?

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

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

Maresca will see squad rotation as essential as he attempts to handle players' minutes and challenge both at home and abroad, but he maintained the central contingent of players remains the unchanged for key fixtures.

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

"If you see the five changes that we did compared to Bournemouth it is different but it is the same eight or nine players who played in that match.

"The ones who played this evening are the individuals who feature in almost all the games."

What's Next for These Sides?

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

The Italian team, on the other hand, are at home to Athletic Club at the same time.