The Blues' Automatic Qualification Ambitions Hit by Loss at Bergamo

At a Glance

• Joao Pedro gives Chelsea the advantage in the opening period.
• Atalanta the stronger side after the break and equalise through Gianluca Scamacca.
• Charles de Ketelaere grabs a late decisive goal for the hosts.
• The defeat means Chelsea fall to 11th in the group stage of the Champions League.
• The leading eight teams progress automatically for the knockouts.

The London club's hopes of qualifying automatically for the European Cup knockout stages were hit hard as Atalanta overturned a deficit to win in their home stadium.

Each club entered this fixture with matching records in the initial stage of this season's competition, having secured three victories, drawn, and lost to sit on 10 points.

For much of the game there was little to separate them in this contest too, even though Chelsea took the lead in the first half when Joao Pedro finished the captain's cross.

But Atalanta remained a threat going on the attack, with former Premier League attacker creating problems for the backline.

Reece James shot wide in the second half but Atalanta increased the intensity and justly equalised when former West Ham United striker nodded home a centering pass.

The winger hammered a powerful shot straight at the keeper but they got the decisive strike in the closing stages when the Chelsea defence retreated from Charles de Ketelaere, who seized the opportunity with a low finish.

The visitors tried to salvage a point late on but a superb save by the Atalanta goalkeeper denied Pedro.

The outcome means Chelsea fall out of the automatic qualification places—the spots that progress automatically for the next round—to 11th with two group stage fixtures remaining.

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

Chelsea Analysis - Concerning Form Continues

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

But they lost focus in defence with seven minutes remaining and their opponents seized the moment.

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

But the broader context is that this continues Chelsea's concerning run of form in all competitions.

Since defeating the Spanish giants 3-0 at the close of November they are now winless in their last four outings.

Excessive Changes Proving Costly?

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

The rotations here came after he implemented the same number for the defeat to Leeds and six for the draw with Bournemouth prior to the journey to Bergamo.

The coach will view squad rotation as essential as he attempts to handle players' fitness and challenge both at home and in Europe, but he stated the core group of players remains the unchanged for key games.

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

"If you see the five alterations that we made compared to the previous game it is a change but it involves the eight or nine players playing Barcelona.

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

What Next for These Teams?

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

The Italian team, meanwhile, are at home to Athletic Bilbao at the same time.