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Match Summary

• The Chelsea forward gives Chelsea the lead in the first half.
• The Italian outfit the better side after the break and equalise through Gianluca Scamacca.
• Charles de Ketelaere scores a last-gasp winner for the home side.
• The defeat means Chelsea slide to 11th in the league phase of the Champions League.
• The leading eight teams qualify automatically for the knockouts.

Chelsea's ambitions of qualifying automatically for the Champions League knockouts were hit hard as Atalanta overturned a deficit to triumph in Bergamo.

The two teams entered this game with the same records in the initial stage of this season's tournament, having secured three victories, drawn, and suffered one defeat to be on 10 points.

For extended periods there was little to separate them in this contest too, even though Chelsea got their noses in front in the first half when the Brazilian turned in Reece James' delivery.

But Atalanta consistently appeared a threat going on the attack, with former Premier League attacker causing problems for the defence.

James fired wide in the second half but Atalanta raised the intensity and deservedly equalised when former West Ham United striker headed in a centering pass.

Alejandro Garnacho drove a powerful shot straight at the keeper but Atalanta secured the winning goal late on when the Blues defenders backed off the midfielder, who seized the opportunity with a low strike.

The visitors tried to salvage a draw late on but a brilliant save by the Atalanta goalkeeper denied Pedro.

The result means Chelsea drop out of the automatic qualification places—the spots that qualify automatically for the next round—to 11th with two group stage fixtures remaining.

Atalanta, meanwhile, jump up to third, three points ahead of the Londoners.

Blues Breakdown - Worrying Run Continues

This was a extremely disappointing result for Chelsea as even a draw was leaving them in a strong position to achieve the top eight finish they require to avoid the lottery of the play-offs.

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

The Italian side are in good form at the moment so this was always going to be a tough test for the Blues, but they will be annoyed to be departing with no points after securing the lead.

But the wider issue is that this extends Chelsea's concerning streak of results in all tournaments.

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

Too Many Changes Proving Expensive?

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca enacted five rotations for this game as he continued his run of rotating players in and out of the starting 11.

The rotations here came after he made the same number for the defeat to Leeds United and six for the draw with AFC Bournemouth prior to the journey to Bergamo.

The coach will see rotation as essential as he tries to handle players' fitness and challenge both at home and abroad, but he stated the central contingent of players stays the unchanged for important games.

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

"If you see the five changes that we did compared to Bournemouth it may be a change 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."

Up Next for These Sides?

Chelsea's next European fixture sees them host Pafos on Wednesday, 21 January (8pm GMT).

The Italian team, meanwhile, host Athletic Bilbao at the identical kick-off time.