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Key Moments

• The Chelsea forward gives Chelsea the advantage in the opening period.
• The Italian outfit the stronger side after the break and draw level through Gianluca Scamacca.
• The Belgian attacker grabs a last-gasp winner for the hosts.
• The defeat means Chelsea drop to eleventh place in the group stage 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 European Cup knockouts were hit hard as Atalanta overturned a deficit to triumph in Bergamo.

The two teams went into this match with matching points tallies in the initial stage of this season's tournament, having won, drawn, and suffered one defeat to have accrued ten points.

For much of the game there was not much to distinguish them in this encounter too, even though Chelsea got their noses in front in the opening 45 minutes when Joao Pedro turned in Reece James' cross.

But Atalanta consistently appeared a threat going forward, with ex- Charlton and Everton attacker Ademola Lookman issues for the defence.

Reece James fired wide in the second half but the home team raised the pressure and justly equalised when ex-West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca a centering pass.

Alejandro Garnacho drove a powerful shot straight at the keeper but they scored the decisive strike late on when the Blues defence retreated from the midfielder, who took full advantage with a powerful strike.

Chelsea tried to salvage a draw late on but a excellent save by Marco Carnesecchi denied Pedro.

The final score means Chelsea drop out of the top eight—the spots that progress automatically for the next round—to eleventh with two group stage matches left to play.

The Bergamo club, meanwhile, climb up to third, three points clear of the Londoners.

Chelsea Analysis - Concerning Run Persists

This was a extremely frustrating outcome for Chelsea as even a point was leaving them well placed to secure the top eight finish they need to bypass the lottery of the play-offs.

But they lost focus in defence with seven minutes left on the clock and Atalanta took full advantage.

The Italian side are in rich vein of form at the moment so this was always going to be a tough test for the Blues, but they will be disappointed to be departing with nothing after taking the lead.

But the wider issue is that this extends Chelsea's concerning run of results in all competitions.

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

Too Many Rotations Turning Out to Be Costly?

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

The rotations here came after he implemented the identical amount for the defeat to Leeds United and six for the draw with AFC Bournemouth prior to the trip to Bergamo.

The coach will view rotation as vital as he attempts to handle players' fitness and compete both at domestically and in Europe, but he stated the key nucleus of players remains the unchanged for important fixtures.

"I think in this match [in] the starting lineup we had eight or nine players who played against Tottenham, Barcelona, and Arsenal," he said.

"If you see the five changes that we made compared to Bournemouth it is different but it involves the same eight or nine players playing Barcelona.

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

Up Next for These Clubs?

The Blues' next Champions League game sees them host the Cypriot side on Wednesday, 21 January (8pm GMT).

The Italian team, meanwhile, are at home to Athletic Bilbao at the identical kick-off time.