🔗 Share this article

Key Moments

• The Chelsea forward hands Chelsea the lead in the first half.
• Atalanta the better side after the break and draw level through the striker.
• Charles de Ketelaere scores a last-gasp winner for the hosts.
• The defeat means Chelsea slide to 11th in the league phase of the tournament.
• The leading eight teams progress automatically for the last 16.

The London club's hopes of securing a place automatically for the European Cup knockouts were dealt a blow as Atalanta came from behind to triumph in Bergamo.

Each club went into this game with matching points tallies in the initial stage of this year's competition, having won, drawn, and suffered one defeat to sit on ten points.

For much of the game there was little to choose between them in this contest too, although Chelsea took the lead in the first half when Joao Pedro finished Reece James' delivery.

But The Serie A side remained a threat going on the attack, with former Premier League attacker creating issues for the defence.

James shot wide in the second half but the home team raised the intensity and justly drew level when ex-West Ham striker headed in a centering pass.

The winger hammered a strong effort straight at the keeper but Atalanta secured the decisive strike in the closing stages when the Blues defence retreated from Charles de Ketelaere, who took full advantage with a low strike.

Chelsea attempted to rescue a point in stoppage time but a superb save by Marco Carnesecchi denied Pedro.

The outcome means Chelsea slip out of the top eight—the positions that qualify automatically for the knockouts—to 11th with two group stage matches remaining.

The Bergamo club, meanwhile, leap up to third, three points ahead of the Londoners.

Chelsea Analysis - Worrying Run Continues

This was a extremely frustrating outcome for Chelsea as even a draw was leaving them in a strong position to achieve the top-eight finish they need to bypass the lottery of the play-offs.

But they lacked concentration in their defensive duties with seven minutes remaining and Atalanta capitalised completely.

The Italian side are in fine fettle at the moment so this was always going to be a difficult examination for the Blues, but they will be frustrated to be departing with no points after taking the early advantage.

But the bigger picture is that this extends Chelsea's troubling sequence of results in all tournaments.

Since beating the Spanish giants 3-0 at the close of November they are now without a win in their last four matches.

Too Many Changes Proving Costly?

Chelsea boss Maresca made five changes for this game as he persisted with his policy of moving players in and out of the starting lineup.

The changes here followed after he made the identical amount for the defeat to Leeds United and six for the tie with AFC Bournemouth prior to the journey to Atalanta.

The coach will see rotation as vital as he attempts to manage players' workloads and compete both at domestically and abroad, but he stated the key nucleus of players remains the same for key games.

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

"If you look at the five alterations that we made relative to Bournemouth it may be a change but it is the same eight or nine players playing in that match.

"The ones who took to the field tonight are the individuals playing almost all the matches."

Up Next for These Clubs?

Chelsea's next European game sees them host the Cypriot side on the coming Wednesday (8pm GMT).

Atalanta, meanwhile, are at home to Athletic Club at the same time.