The Blues' Qualification Hopes Hit by Defeat at Bergamo

Key Moments

• Joao Pedro hands Chelsea the advantage in the first half.
• The Italian outfit the stronger side after the interval and equalise through Gianluca Scamacca.
• The Belgian attacker nets a last-gasp decisive goal for the hosts.
• Loss means Chelsea fall to eleventh place in the group stage of the tournament.
• The top eight qualify automatically for the knockout phase.

Chelsea's ambitions of qualifying automatically for the Champions League knockout stages were dealt a blow as Atalanta overturned a deficit to triumph in Bergamo.

Both sides went into this fixture with the same records in the league phase of this season's competition, having won, drawn, and suffered one defeat to have accrued ten points.

For much of the game there was very little to separate them in this encounter too, although Chelsea went ahead in the opening 45 minutes when Joao Pedro turned in the captain's delivery.

But Atalanta consistently appeared a threat going forwards, with former Charlton and Everton attacker Ademola Lookman problems for the backline.

Reece James shot wide in the after the break but the home team upped the intensity and deservedly levelled when former West Ham United striker headed in a cross.

The winger drove a powerful shot straight at the keeper but Atalanta secured the winning goal late on when the Blues defenders retreated from the midfielder, who made no mistake with a powerful finish.

The visitors attempted to rescue a point late on but a brilliant save by Marco Carnesecchi kept out Joao Pedro.

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

The Bergamo club, in contrast, climb up to third, three points clear of the Blues.

Blues Breakdown - Concerning Run Continues

This was a hugely disappointing outcome for Chelsea as even a point was keeping them in a strong position to achieve the top eight position they need to avoid the uncertainty of the qualifying play-off round.

But they lacked concentration in their defensive duties with seven minutes left on the clock and their opponents seized the moment.

The Italian side are in good form at the moment so this was always going to be a challenging examination for the Blues, but they will be frustrated to be departing with no points after taking the early advantage.

But the wider issue is that this extends Chelsea's worrying sequence of results in all tournaments.

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

Excessive Rotations Proving Expensive?

Manager Enzo Enzo Maresca enacted five changes for this match as he persisted with his run of moving players in and out of the starting lineup.

The rotations here followed after he made the identical amount for the loss to Leeds and six for the draw with AFC Bournemouth prior to the trip to Atalanta.

The coach will see rotation as vital as he tries to handle players' minutes and challenge both at home and abroad, but he stated the central contingent of players stays the unchanged for important games.

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

"If you look at the five changes that we made relative to the previous game it may be a change but it involves the same 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's Next for These Clubs?

Chelsea's next Champions League game sees them host the Cypriot side on the coming Wednesday (8pm GMT).

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