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Match Summary

• The Chelsea forward gives Chelsea the advantage in the first half.
• 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 home side.
• Loss means Chelsea drop to 11th in the group stage of the tournament.
• The leading eight teams progress automatically for the knockout phase.

Chelsea's hopes of securing a place automatically for the European Cup knockouts were dealt a blow as their Italian opponents came from behind to win in Bergamo.

Both sides entered this game with the same records in the league phase of this year's competition, having won, tied one, and lost to sit on 10 points.

For much of the game there was very little to separate them in this encounter too, even though Chelsea got their noses in front in the first half when Joao Pedro turned in Reece James' delivery.

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

Reece James shot wide in the after the break but the home team upped the pressure and deservedly levelled when ex-West Ham striker nodded home a centering pass.

Alejandro Garnacho hammered a powerful shot straight at the goalkeeper but Atalanta secured the decisive strike in the closing stages when the Blues defenders backed off the midfielder, who seized the opportunity with a powerful shot.

The visitors tried to salvage a draw in stoppage time but a brilliant save by the Atalanta goalkeeper denied Pedro.

The outcome means Chelsea fall out of the top eight—the spots that progress automatically for the knockouts—to 11th with two league phase matches left to play.

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

Chelsea Analysis - Concerning Sequence Persists

This was a hugely frustrating result for Chelsea as even a draw was leaving them well placed to secure the top eight position they require to avoid the lottery of the play-offs.

But they lacked concentration in their defensive duties with seven minutes remaining and their opponents took full advantage.

The Italians are in fine fettle at the moment so this was always going to be a difficult test for the Blues, but they will be disappointed to be departing with nothing after taking the lead.

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

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

Excessive Changes Turning Out to Be Costly?

Manager Enzo Maresca made five changes for this match as he persisted with his run of moving players in and out of the first team.

The changes here came after he implemented the identical amount for the defeat to Leeds United and six for the tie with AFC Bournemouth prior to the trip to Atalanta.

The coach will view rotation as essential as he attempts to manage players' minutes and challenge both at home and abroad, but he maintained the central contingent of players stays the same for key fixtures.

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

"If you see the five changes that we did compared to Bournemouth it may be a change but it is the eight or nine players who played Barcelona.

"The ones 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 welcome the Cypriot side on Wednesday, 21 January (8pm GMT).

Atalanta, on the other hand, host Athletic Club at the same time.