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Match Summary

• Joao Pedro gives Chelsea the advantage in the first half.
• Atalanta the better side after the break and draw level through the striker.
• The Belgian attacker scores a late winner for the hosts.
• Loss means Chelsea slide to 11th in the league phase of the Champions League.
• The leading eight teams progress automatically for the last 16.

The London club's ambitions of securing a place automatically for the Champions League knockouts were dealt a blow as Atalanta came from behind to claim victory in their home stadium.

Both sides entered this match with identical points tallies in the league phase of this season's tournament, having secured three victories, tied one, and suffered one defeat to be on 10 points.

For large parts there was little to choose between them in this contest too, although Chelsea got their noses in front in the first half when the Brazilian finished Reece James' cross.

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

James fired wide in the second half but Atalanta upped the intensity and rightfully drew level when ex-West Ham striker nodded home a centering pass.

Alejandro Garnacho hammered a strong effort straight at the goalkeeper but they secured the winner in the closing stages when the Chelsea defence retreated from Charles de Ketelaere, who made no mistake with a low strike.

Chelsea tried to rescue a point in stoppage time but a brilliant save by Marco Carnesecchi kept out Pedro.

The final score means Chelsea slip out of the top eight—the positions that progress automatically for the knockouts—to 11th with two league phase fixtures left to play.

The Bergamo club, in contrast, climb up to third, three points ahead of the Londoners.

Blues Breakdown - Worrying Run Persists

This was a hugely disappointing result for Chelsea as even a point was leaving them well placed to achieve the top eight position they need to avoid the lottery of the play-offs.

But they lost focus in defence with seven minutes remaining and their opponents took full advantage.

The Italian side are in fine fettle at the moment so this was always going to be a difficult test for the visitors, but they will be frustrated to be departing with no points after taking the early advantage.

But the broader context is that this perpetuates Chelsea's worrying streak of results in all competitions.

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

Too Many Rotations Proving Costly?

Manager Enzo Enzo Maresca made five alterations for this match as he continued his strategy of rotating players in and out of the first team.

The rotations here came after he made the identical amount for the defeat to Leeds United and six for the draw with AFC Bournemouth prior to the journey to Atalanta.

Maresca will see rotation as vital as he tries to manage players' minutes and challenge both at home and in Europe, but he insisted the core group of players stays the unchanged for crucial games.

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

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

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

Up Next for These Sides?

The Blues' next Champions League fixture sees them welcome Pafos on Wednesday, 21 January (8pm GMT).

The Italian team, on the other hand, are at home to Athletic Bilbao at the same time.