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Match Summary

• Joao Pedro hands Chelsea the advantage in the opening period.
• The Italian outfit the stronger side after the interval and draw level through the striker.
• The Belgian attacker scores a last-gasp winner for the home side.
• Loss means Chelsea slide to eleventh place in the group stage of the Champions League.
• The top eight qualify automatically for the last 16.

Chelsea's ambitions of qualifying automatically for the European Cup knockouts were hit hard as their Italian opponents overturned a deficit to win in their home stadium.

Both sides entered this game with matching points tallies in the league phase of this season's competition, having secured three victories, tied one, and suffered one defeat to be on ten points.

For much of the game there was not much to distinguish them in this encounter too, although Chelsea took the lead in the opening 45 minutes when the Brazilian turned in the captain's delivery.

But The Serie A side remained a danger going forward, with ex- Charlton and Everton attacker causing problems for the defence.

Reece James shot wide in the after the break but Atalanta increased the pressure and deservedly levelled when former West Ham United striker nodded home a cross.

Alejandro Garnacho drove a strong effort straight at the goalkeeper but they got the winning goal late on when the Chelsea defence backed off Charles de Ketelaere, who took full advantage with a low finish.

The visitors tried to rescue a draw in stoppage time but a superb save by Marco Carnesecchi kept out Joao Pedro.

The result means Chelsea fall out of the automatic qualification places—the spots that progress automatically for the knockouts—to 11th with two league phase games remaining.

The Bergamo club, in contrast, climb up to third place, three points clear of the Londoners.

Chelsea Analysis - Worrying Form Persists

This was a deeply frustrating outcome for Chelsea as even a draw was keeping them in a strong position to secure the top eight finish they need to bypass 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 took full advantage.

The Italian side are in rich vein of form at the moment so this was always going to be a difficult test for the visitors, but they will be annoyed to be departing with no points after taking the lead.

But the bigger picture is that this continues Chelsea's concerning streak of results in all competitions.

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

Excessive Changes Proving Expensive?

Manager Enzo Maresca enacted five alterations for this match as he persisted with his strategy of moving players in and out of the first team.

The rotations here came after he implemented the identical amount for the loss to Leeds United and six for the tie with Bournemouth prior to the journey to Atalanta.

Maresca will view squad rotation as vital as he attempts 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 believe tonight [in] the starting lineup we had eight or nine players who featured against Tottenham, Barcelona, and Arsenal," he commented.

"If you see the five changes that we did relative to the previous game it may be a change but it involves the same eight or nine players who played in that match.

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

Up Next for These Sides?

Chelsea's next European game sees them host the Cypriot side on Wednesday, 21 January (8pm GMT).

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