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Match Summary

• 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.
• The Belgian attacker grabs a late decisive goal for the hosts.
• Loss means Chelsea slide to eleventh place in the group stage of the tournament.
• The top eight progress automatically for the last 16.

The London club's hopes of securing a place automatically for the Champions League knockout stages were dealt a blow as their Italian opponents came from behind to triumph in Bergamo.

The two teams entered this match with identical records in the league phase of this year's tournament, having secured three victories, drawn, and lost to have accrued 10 points.

For much of the game there was not much to choose between them in this contest too, although Chelsea took the lead in the opening 45 minutes when Joao Pedro turned in the captain's cross.

But The Serie A side remained a threat going forwards, with ex- Premier League attacker creating issues for the defence.

Reece James fired wide in the after the break but the home team upped the pressure and justly equalised when former West Ham United striker nodded home a centering pass.

Alejandro Garnacho drove a strong effort straight at the keeper but they got the winner in the closing stages when the Chelsea defence retreated from Charles de Ketelaere, who took full advantage with a powerful shot.

Chelsea attempted to rescue a point late on but a brilliant stop by Marco Carnesecchi kept out Pedro.

The outcome means Chelsea fall out of the top eight—the positions that progress automatically for the next round—to eleventh with two league phase matches left to play.

Atalanta, in contrast, jump up to third, three points ahead of the Blues.

Chelsea Analysis - Worrying Form Persists

This was a hugely disappointing outcome for Chelsea as even a point was keeping them in a strong position to secure the top eight position they require to bypass the lottery of the play-offs.

But they let their concentration slip in their defensive duties with seven minutes remaining and their opponents seized the moment.

The Italian side are in good form 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 nothing after taking the lead.

But the broader context is that this extends Chelsea's worrying streak of form in all competitions.

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

Too Many Rotations Turning Out to Be Expensive?

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

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

Maresca will view rotation as necessary as he attempts to manage players' fitness and compete both at home and in Europe, but he insisted the central contingent of players remains the same for crucial games.

"I believe tonight [in] the first XI we had eight or nine players who featured against Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona, and Arsenal," he commented.

"If you look at the five changes that we did compared to the previous game it may be a change but it involves the eight or nine players playing Barcelona.

"The ones who played this evening are the individuals playing almost all the matches."

Up Next for These Sides?

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

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