🔗 Share this article

Match Summary

• The Chelsea forward hands Chelsea the advantage in the first half.
• The Italian outfit the stronger side after the interval and draw level through the striker.
• The Belgian attacker grabs a late decisive goal for the hosts.
• Loss means Chelsea fall to 11th in the group stage of the Champions League.
• The leading eight teams progress automatically for the last 16.

Chelsea's hopes of qualifying automatically for the European Cup knockouts were suffered a setback as Atalanta came from behind to triumph in Bergamo.

Both sides went into this match with identical points tallies in the league phase of this year's competition, having secured three victories, drawn, and lost to be on ten points.

For much of the game there was very little to distinguish them in this encounter too, although Chelsea got their noses in front in the opening 45 minutes when Joao Pedro converted the captain's delivery.

But Atalanta consistently appeared a danger going forwards, with ex- Premier League attacker creating problems for the defence.

James fired wide in the after the break but the home team increased the pressure and deservedly drew level when former West Ham United striker headed in a centering pass.

Alejandro Garnacho hammered a strong effort straight at the goalkeeper but they got the winner in the closing stages when the Blues defenders retreated from the midfielder, who took full advantage with a powerful finish.

The visitors tried to salvage a draw late on but a excellent stop by the Atalanta goalkeeper kept out Pedro.

The outcome means Chelsea drop out of the automatic qualification places—the positions that progress automatically for the knockouts—to 11th with two group stage games left to play.

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

Blues Breakdown - Worrying Form Persists

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

But they let their concentration slip in defence with seven minutes left on the clock and Atalanta capitalised completely.

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

But the bigger picture is that this continues Chelsea's troubling streak of form in all tournaments.

Since defeating the Spanish giants 3-0 at the end of November they are now without a win in their last four games.

Excessive Changes Turning Out to Be Expensive?

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca made five alterations for this game as he persisted with his policy 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 AFC Bournemouth prior to the trip to Bergamo.

The coach will see rotation as vital as he attempts to manage players' fitness and compete both at domestically and in Europe, but he maintained the central contingent of players remains the unchanged for crucial fixtures.

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

"If you see the five changes that we did relative to the previous game it is different but it is the same eight or nine players playing Barcelona.

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

Up Next for These Sides?

The Blues' next Champions League game sees them welcome the Cypriot side on the coming Wednesday (8pm GMT).

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