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Match Summary

• The Chelsea forward gives Chelsea the lead in the opening period.
• The Italian outfit the stronger side after the interval and draw level through the striker.
• The Belgian attacker grabs a late winner for the hosts.
• Loss means Chelsea fall to 11th in the league phase of the Champions League.
• The top eight progress automatically for the last 16.

Chelsea's hopes of qualifying automatically for the European Cup knockouts were suffered a setback as their Italian opponents came from behind to triumph in their home stadium.

Each club entered this match with the same records in the league phase of this season's competition, having won, drawn, and lost to have accrued 10 points.

For much of the game there was not much to separate them in this encounter too, although Chelsea got their noses in front in the opening 45 minutes when the Brazilian turned in Reece James' delivery.

But The Serie A side consistently appeared a threat going forward, with ex- Premier League attacker causing problems for the defence.

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

The winger hammered a powerful shot straight at the goalkeeper but Atalanta got the decisive strike in the closing stages when the Chelsea defenders backed off Charles de Ketelaere, who made no mistake with a driven strike.

Chelsea tried to salvage a point late on but a excellent stop by the Atalanta goalkeeper denied Pedro.

The result means Chelsea drop out of the automatic qualification places—the positions that progress automatically for the next round—to 11th with two league phase fixtures remaining.

The Bergamo club, in contrast, leap up to third, three points ahead of the Blues.

Chelsea Analysis - Worrying Sequence Continues

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

But they lost focus in their defensive duties with seven minutes left on the clock and their opponents took full advantage.

The Italian side are in rich vein of form at the moment so this was always going to be a tough examination for the Blues, but they will be frustrated to be departing with no points after securing the lead.

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

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

Excessive Rotations Turning Out to Be Expensive?

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca enacted five rotations for this game 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 tie with Bournemouth prior to the trip to Bergamo.

The coach will view rotation as vital as he tries to handle players' minutes and compete both at domestically and abroad, but he insisted the central contingent of players stays the unchanged for key games.

"I believe in this match [in] the first XI we had eight or nine players who played against Tottenham, FC Barcelona, and Arsenal," he stated.

"If you see the five alterations that we made relative to Bournemouth it is different but it is the same eight or nine players who played Barcelona.

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

What Next for These Sides?

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

Atalanta, on the other hand, are at home to Athletic Club at the identical kick-off time.