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Match Summary

• Joao Pedro gives Chelsea the advantage in the opening period.
• Atalanta the stronger side after the break and draw level through the striker.
• The Belgian attacker scores a last-gasp decisive goal for the home side.
• The defeat means Chelsea drop to eleventh place in the league phase of the Champions League.
• The leading eight teams qualify automatically for the last 16.

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

Both sides went into this game with matching points tallies in the league phase of this season's tournament, having secured three victories, drawn, and suffered one defeat to be on ten points.

For much of the game there was little to distinguish them in this contest too, although Chelsea got their noses in front in the opening 45 minutes when the Brazilian converted Reece James' cross.

But The Serie A side consistently appeared a danger going forwards, with ex- Charlton and Everton attacker creating problems for the backline.

James shot wide in the second half but the home team raised the pressure and rightfully levelled when former West Ham United striker headed in a centering pass.

The winger drove a powerful shot straight at the goalkeeper but they scored the winner late on when the Chelsea defence retreated from the midfielder, who took full advantage with a driven strike.

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

The outcome means Chelsea fall out of the top eight—the spots that qualify automatically for the knockouts—to 11th with two league phase fixtures remaining.

Atalanta, meanwhile, climb up to third place, three points clear of the Blues.

Blues Breakdown - Worrying Sequence Continues

This was a extremely frustrating result for Chelsea as even a draw was leaving them well placed to secure the top-eight finish they need to avoid the uncertainty of the qualifying play-off round.

But they let their concentration slip in defence with seven minutes remaining and their opponents capitalised completely.

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 nothing after taking the early advantage.

But the broader context is that this extends Chelsea's worrying sequence 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 outings.

Too Many Rotations Turning Out to Be Expensive?

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca made five changes for this match as he persisted with his strategy of moving players in and out of the starting 11.

The rotations here came after he made the same number for the loss to Leeds and six for the tie with AFC Bournemouth prior to the journey to Bergamo.

The coach will view squad rotation as necessary as he attempts to manage players' workloads and challenge both at home and abroad, but he maintained the central contingent of players remains the same for important fixtures.

"I believe tonight [in] the starting lineup we had eight or nine players who played against Tottenham Hotspur, FC Barcelona, and Arsenal," he stated.

"If you see the five alterations that we did compared to Bournemouth it is a change but it involves the same eight or nine players who played in that match.

"The ones who took to the field tonight are the individuals playing almost all the games."

Up Next for These Sides?

Chelsea's next Champions League game sees them welcome the Cypriot side on Wednesday, 21 January (8pm GMT).

Atalanta, on the other hand, host Athletic Club at the identical kick-off time.