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At a Glance

• The Chelsea forward gives Chelsea the advantage in the opening period.
• The Italian outfit the stronger side after the break and draw level through Gianluca Scamacca.
• Charles de Ketelaere nets a last-gasp winner for the home side.
• The defeat means Chelsea drop to 11th in the league phase of the Champions League.
• The top eight progress automatically for the knockouts.

Chelsea's hopes of securing a place automatically for the Champions League knockout stages were hit hard as Atalanta overturned a deficit to triumph in their home stadium.

Both sides went into this game with identical records in the initial stage of this year's tournament, having won, tied one, and lost to sit on 10 points.

For much of the game there was very little to choose between them in this contest too, even though Chelsea took the lead in the first half when Joao Pedro finished the captain's cross.

But Atalanta remained a threat going forward, with former Charlton and Everton attacker creating problems for the defence.

Reece James shot wide in the after the break but Atalanta increased the intensity and justly drew level when ex-West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca a cross.

The winger drove a powerful shot straight at the goalkeeper but they got the decisive strike in the closing stages when the Blues defence backed off the midfielder, who took full advantage with a low strike.

The visitors attempted to salvage a draw in stoppage time but a brilliant stop by Marco Carnesecchi denied Pedro.

The final score means Chelsea slip out of the top eight—the spots that qualify automatically for the knockouts—to eleventh with two group stage games remaining.

The Bergamo club, in contrast, jump up to third, three points ahead of the Blues.

Chelsea Analysis - Concerning Run Persists

This was a extremely frustrating result for Chelsea as even a point was leaving them well placed to achieve the top-eight finish they need to bypass the uncertainty of the play-offs.

But they lacked concentration in their defensive duties with seven minutes remaining and Atalanta seized the moment.

The Italians are in rich vein of form at the moment so this was always going to be a tough examination for the Blues, but they will be annoyed to be departing with no points after taking the early advantage.

But the wider issue is that this continues Chelsea's concerning run of form in all competitions.

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

Excessive Rotations Proving Expensive?

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca enacted five alterations for this match as he persisted with his policy of moving players in and out of the starting 11.

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 Atalanta.

The coach will view rotation as vital as he tries to manage players' fitness and challenge both at home and abroad, but he stated the core group of players remains the unchanged for key fixtures.

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

"If you see the five changes that we did compared to Bournemouth it is a change but it involves the eight or nine players playing in that match.

"The players who took to the field this evening are the ones playing almost all the games."

Up Next for These Teams?

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

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