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Match Summary

• Joao Pedro gives Chelsea the advantage in the opening period.
• The Italian outfit the stronger side after the break and equalise through the striker.
• The Belgian attacker nets a late decisive goal for the home side.
• Loss means Chelsea fall to 11th in the league phase of the tournament.
• The leading eight teams progress automatically for the last 16.

Chelsea's hopes of qualifying automatically for the European Cup knockouts were dealt a blow as their Italian opponents overturned a deficit to claim victory in Bergamo.

Both sides went into this match with identical records in the league phase of this season's tournament, having won, drawn, and lost to sit on ten points.

For much of the game there was very little to distinguish them in this encounter too, even though Chelsea went ahead in the first half when Joao Pedro finished the captain's delivery.

But Atalanta consistently appeared a danger going forward, with ex- Charlton and Everton attacker Ademola Lookman problems for the backline.

James fired wide in the second half but the home team raised the intensity and justly levelled when ex-West Ham striker nodded home a centering pass.

The winger drove a strong effort straight at the keeper but they scored the decisive strike late on when the Blues defence backed off Charles de Ketelaere, who made no mistake with a low shot.

Chelsea tried to rescue a point in stoppage time but a excellent save by the Atalanta goalkeeper kept out Joao Pedro.

The final score means Chelsea slip out of the automatic qualification places—the positions that qualify automatically for the next round—to 11th with two group stage games remaining.

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

Blues Breakdown - Worrying Run Persists

This was a hugely frustrating result for Chelsea as even a point was keeping them in a strong position to secure the top eight finish they require to bypass the uncertainty of the play-offs.

But they lacked concentration in defence with seven minutes remaining and their opponents seized the moment.

The Italians 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 leaving with no points after securing the early advantage.

But the bigger picture is that this perpetuates Chelsea's worrying streak of form in all tournaments.

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

Too Many Rotations Proving Expensive?

Manager Enzo Enzo Maresca enacted five alterations for this game as he persisted with his strategy of moving players in and out of the starting 11.

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

Maresca will view squad rotation as essential as he attempts to handle players' fitness and challenge both at domestically and abroad, but he insisted the key nucleus of players stays the unchanged for key games.

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

"If you see the five alterations that we made compared to Bournemouth it may be a change but it involves the eight or nine players playing in that match.

"The players who played tonight are the ones who feature in almost all the matches."

Up Next for These Clubs?

The Blues' next Champions League game sees them welcome the Cypriot side on the coming Wednesday (20:00 GMT).

Atalanta, meanwhile, host Athletic Bilbao at the same time.