🔗 Share this article

Match Summary

• Joao Pedro gives Chelsea the lead in the opening period.
• The Italian outfit the better side after the break and draw level through the striker.
• The Belgian attacker nets a last-gasp decisive goal for the hosts.
• Loss means Chelsea slide to 11th in the group stage of the Champions League.
• The top eight qualify automatically for the knockout phase.

Chelsea's chances of qualifying automatically for the Champions League knockouts were suffered a setback as their Italian opponents came from behind to triumph in their home stadium.

Both sides went into this match with matching points tallies in the league phase of this year's tournament, having won, tied one, and lost to be 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 the Brazilian turned in Reece James' cross.

But The Serie A side consistently appeared a danger going on the attack, with ex- Premier League attacker causing issues for the backline.

Reece James shot wide in the second half but Atalanta increased the pressure and rightfully levelled when former West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca a centering pass.

Alejandro Garnacho hammered a powerful shot straight at the goalkeeper but Atalanta secured the winner in the closing stages when the Chelsea defence retreated from the midfielder, who took full advantage with a low finish.

The visitors attempted to salvage a draw in stoppage time but a superb save by the Atalanta goalkeeper denied Joao Pedro.

The result means Chelsea slip out of the top eight—the positions that qualify automatically for the next round—to eleventh with two league phase matches remaining.

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

Chelsea Analysis - Worrying Run Continues

This was a extremely frustrating outcome for Chelsea as even a draw was keeping them in a strong position to achieve the top eight position they require to avoid the lottery of the qualifying play-off round.

But they lost focus in their defensive duties with seven minutes left on the clock and their opponents seized the moment.

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

But the bigger picture is that this continues Chelsea's worrying run of results in all tournaments.

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

Excessive Changes Proving Expensive?

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

The changes here followed after he implemented the same number for the loss to Leeds and six for the draw with Bournemouth prior to the trip to Atalanta.

Maresca will view squad rotation as essential as he tries to manage players' minutes and compete both at domestically and abroad, but he stated the central contingent of players stays the same for important fixtures.

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

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

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

What's Next for These Clubs?

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

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