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Match Summary

• The Chelsea forward gives Chelsea the lead in the opening period.
• The Italian outfit the better side after the break and equalise through Gianluca Scamacca.
• The Belgian attacker scores a late decisive goal for the home side.
• Loss means Chelsea fall to eleventh place in the group stage of the Champions League.
• The top eight qualify automatically for the knockouts.

Chelsea's chances of qualifying automatically for the Champions League knockouts were dealt a blow as Atalanta overturned a deficit to win in Bergamo.

Both sides went into this game with matching records in the league phase of this year's competition, having won, tied one, and lost to be on 10 points.

For extended periods there was not much to separate them in this contest too, although Chelsea went ahead in the opening 45 minutes when the Brazilian turned in Reece James' cross.

But The Serie A side remained a danger going forward, with former Premier League attacker Ademola Lookman problems for the defence.

James fired wide in the after the break but Atalanta upped the intensity and justly levelled when former West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca a centering pass.

The winger hammered a powerful shot straight at the goalkeeper but they secured the decisive strike in the closing stages when the Chelsea defenders backed off the midfielder, who took full advantage with a powerful finish.

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

The result means Chelsea fall out of the automatic qualification places—the spots that qualify automatically for the knockouts—to 11th with two league phase matches left to play.

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

Chelsea Analysis - Worrying Run Persists

This was a deeply disappointing result for Chelsea as even a draw was leaving them in a strong position to secure the top eight position they require to avoid the uncertainty of the qualifying play-off round.

But they lacked concentration in defence with seven minutes left on the clock and Atalanta capitalised completely.

The Italians are in rich vein of form at the moment so this was always going to be a difficult examination for the visitors, but they will be frustrated to be leaving with no points after securing the early advantage.

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

Since defeating the Spanish giants 3-0 at the close of November they are now without a win in their last four games.

Excessive Rotations Turning Out to Be Expensive?

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca enacted five alterations for this match as he persisted with his strategy of rotating players in and out of the starting 11.

The rotations here came after he made the same number for the defeat to Leeds and six for the tie with AFC Bournemouth prior to the trip to Atalanta.

The coach will view squad rotation as essential as he attempts to handle players' minutes and challenge both at domestically and in Europe, but he stated the central contingent of players remains the unchanged for key games.

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

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

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

What Next for These Teams?

The Blues' next Champions League game sees them welcome Pafos on the coming Wednesday (8pm GMT).

Atalanta, on the other hand, are at home to Athletic Club at the same time.