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Key Moments

• Joao Pedro gives Chelsea the lead in the opening period.
• The Italian outfit the better side after the interval and draw level through Gianluca Scamacca.
• Charles de Ketelaere nets a late decisive goal for the hosts.
• The defeat means Chelsea slide to 11th in the league phase of the tournament.
• The top eight progress automatically for the knockouts.

The London club's hopes of qualifying automatically for the European Cup knockouts were suffered a setback as their Italian opponents overturned a deficit to triumph in their home stadium.

The two teams entered this game with identical points tallies in the initial stage of this year's tournament, having won, drawn, and lost to sit on ten points.

For much of the game there was little to distinguish them in this encounter too, although Chelsea went ahead in the first half when Joao Pedro converted Reece James' delivery.

But The Serie A side consistently appeared a threat going on the attack, with former Charlton and Everton attacker creating problems for the backline.

Reece James fired wide in the second half but Atalanta raised the pressure and deservedly levelled when former West Ham United striker nodded home a cross.

The winger drove a strong effort straight at the keeper but Atalanta got the decisive strike late on when the Blues defenders retreated from the midfielder, who made no mistake with a powerful shot.

The visitors attempted to salvage a draw in stoppage time but a brilliant save by Marco Carnesecchi denied Joao Pedro.

The result means Chelsea drop out of the top eight—the spots that qualify automatically for the next round—to eleventh with two league phase matches left to play.

Atalanta, meanwhile, jump up to third, three points ahead of the Londoners.

Chelsea Analysis - Worrying Run Continues

This was a extremely frustrating outcome for Chelsea as even a draw was keeping them well placed to achieve the top eight finish they require to bypass the uncertainty of the play-offs.

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

The Italians are in rich vein of form at the moment so this was always going to be a difficult test for the visitors, but they will be frustrated to be leaving with nothing after securing the lead.

But the broader context is that this extends Chelsea's troubling streak of form in all tournaments.

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

Too Many Rotations Turning Out to Be Costly?

Manager Enzo Maresca enacted five alterations for this match as he persisted with his policy of moving players in and out of the first team.

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

The coach will see squad rotation as essential as he tries to manage players' fitness and challenge both at home and in Europe, but he insisted the key nucleus of players remains the unchanged for crucial games.

"I believe tonight [in] the first XI we had eight or nine players who featured against Tottenham Hotspur, FC Barcelona, and Arsenal," he commented.

"If you see the five changes that we did compared to Bournemouth it is a change but it is the eight or nine players playing in that match.

"The ones who played this evening are the ones who feature in almost all the games."

What's Next for These Sides?

The Blues' next European game sees them welcome Pafos on Wednesday, 21 January (20:00 GMT).

Atalanta, on the other hand, host Athletic Bilbao at the same time.