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At a Glance

• Joao Pedro gives Chelsea the lead in the opening period.
• The Italian outfit the stronger side after the interval and draw level through Gianluca Scamacca.
• 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 Champions League.
• The leading eight teams progress automatically for the last 16.

The London club's ambitions of securing a place automatically for the European Cup knockouts were suffered a setback as Atalanta came from behind to triumph in Bergamo.

The two teams went into this match with identical records in the league phase of this season's competition, having won, drawn, and lost to sit on ten points.

For large parts there was very little to choose between them in this contest too, although Chelsea went ahead in the opening 45 minutes when the Brazilian converted Reece James' cross.

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

Reece James fired wide in the second half but Atalanta increased the intensity and justly drew level when former West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca a cross.

The winger hammered a powerful shot straight at the goalkeeper but they secured the winning goal in the closing stages when the Chelsea defenders backed off Charles de Ketelaere, who made no mistake with a low finish.

Chelsea tried to rescue a point late on but a excellent save by Marco Carnesecchi kept out Pedro.

The result means Chelsea drop out of the top eight—the spots that qualify automatically for the knockouts—to eleventh with two group stage matches remaining.

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

Blues Breakdown - Worrying Run Persists

This was a deeply frustrating outcome for Chelsea as even a point was leaving them well placed to achieve the top-eight position they require to avoid the lottery of the play-offs.

But they let their concentration slip in defence with seven minutes remaining and Atalanta 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 securing the lead.

But the wider issue is that this continues Chelsea's concerning sequence of form in all tournaments.

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

Excessive Rotations Proving Costly?

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

The changes here followed after he implemented the identical amount for the defeat to Leeds United and six for the draw with AFC Bournemouth prior to the journey to Bergamo.

The coach will see squad rotation as essential as he tries to manage players' fitness and challenge both at home and abroad, but he insisted the central contingent of players remains the same for important games.

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

"If you see the five changes that we made compared to the previous game it is different but it is the eight or nine players who played Barcelona.

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

Up Next for These Clubs?

Chelsea's next Champions League fixture sees them welcome the Cypriot side on Wednesday, 21 January (20:00 GMT).

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