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Match Summary

• Joao Pedro hands Chelsea the lead in the first half.
• Atalanta the stronger side after the interval and draw level through the striker.
• The Belgian attacker nets a late decisive goal for the home side.
• The defeat means Chelsea drop to eleventh place in the league phase of the tournament.
• The leading eight teams progress automatically for the knockout phase.

Chelsea's chances of qualifying automatically for the European Cup knockout stages were suffered a setback as Atalanta overturned a deficit to triumph in their home stadium.

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

For much of the game there was little to choose between them in this encounter too, although Chelsea went ahead in the opening 45 minutes when Joao Pedro finished the captain's cross.

But Atalanta consistently appeared a threat going forward, with former Charlton and Everton attacker Ademola Lookman issues for the backline.

Reece James shot wide in the second half but Atalanta raised the intensity and rightfully equalised when ex-West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca a centering pass.

Alejandro Garnacho hammered a strong effort straight at the keeper but Atalanta secured the decisive strike late on when the Chelsea defence backed off Charles de Ketelaere, who took full advantage with a driven finish.

Chelsea attempted to rescue a point late on but a excellent save by the Atalanta goalkeeper denied Pedro.

The result means Chelsea drop out of the top eight—the positions that progress automatically for the next round—to eleventh with two group stage games left to play.

Atalanta, meanwhile, leap up to third, three points clear of the Londoners.

Chelsea Analysis - Worrying Sequence Continues

This was a extremely disappointing outcome for Chelsea as even a draw was keeping them well placed to achieve the top-eight finish they need to bypass the uncertainty of the play-offs.

But they let their concentration slip in defence with seven minutes remaining and Atalanta capitalised completely.

The Italian side are in fine fettle at the moment so this was always going to be a difficult examination for the Blues, but they will be frustrated to be departing with no points after taking the lead.

But the broader context is that this perpetuates Chelsea's worrying run of results in all competitions.

Since defeating the Spanish giants 3-0 at the end of November they are now winless in their last four games.

Excessive Changes Turning Out to Be Costly?

Manager Enzo Maresca made five changes for this match as he persisted with his policy of moving players in and out of the starting 11.

The rotations here followed after he made the same number for the defeat to Leeds and six for the draw with Bournemouth prior to the trip to Atalanta.

The coach will see squad rotation as necessary as he attempts to handle players' minutes and challenge both at domestically and in Europe, but he stated the core group of players remains the same for key games.

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

"If you see the five changes that we did compared to the previous game it is a change but it is the eight or nine players playing Barcelona.

"The players who took to the field tonight are the ones who feature in almost all the matches."

What's Next for These Sides?

Chelsea's next European fixture sees them host Pafos on Wednesday, 21 January (20:00 GMT).

Atalanta, on the other hand, host Athletic Club at the identical kick-off time.