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Match Summary

• Joao Pedro gives Chelsea the lead in the opening period.
• Atalanta the stronger side after the interval and draw level through the striker.
• The Belgian attacker grabs a late winner for the home side.
• The defeat means Chelsea fall to 11th in the league phase of the tournament.
• The leading eight teams qualify automatically for the last 16.

Chelsea's ambitions of securing a place automatically for the European Cup knockouts were suffered a setback as Atalanta came from behind to claim victory in Bergamo.

The two teams went into this fixture with matching points tallies in the league phase of this year's tournament, having won, tied one, and suffered one defeat to sit on ten points.

For much of the game there was not much to distinguish them in this encounter too, even though Chelsea went ahead in the first half when the Brazilian finished Reece James' cross.

But The Serie A side always looked a danger going forwards, with ex- Premier League attacker causing issues for the defence.

James fired wide in the after the break but Atalanta raised the pressure and deservedly equalised when ex-West Ham striker nodded home a centering pass.

Alejandro Garnacho hammered a powerful shot straight at the keeper but they secured the decisive strike in the closing stages when the Blues defenders retreated from Charles de Ketelaere, who took full advantage with a low strike.

Chelsea attempted to salvage a point late on but a excellent save by the Atalanta goalkeeper denied Joao Pedro.

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

The Bergamo club, meanwhile, leap up to third, three points clear of the Blues.

Chelsea Analysis - Concerning Form Persists

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

But they lost focus in defence with seven minutes left on the clock and their opponents capitalised completely.

The Italians are in fine fettle at the moment so this was always going to be a tough test for the visitors, but they will be annoyed to be leaving with no points after securing the early advantage.

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

Since beating Barcelona 3-0 at the end of November they are now without a win in their last four matches.

Too Many Changes Turning Out to Be Expensive?

Chelsea boss Maresca made five rotations for this game as he persisted with his strategy of rotating players in and out of the starting 11.

The changes here followed after he made the same number for the loss to Leeds and six for the tie with Bournemouth prior to the journey to Bergamo.

Maresca will see rotation as vital as he attempts to handle players' fitness and compete both at home and in Europe, but he insisted the core group of players remains the unchanged for key games.

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

"If you look at the five changes that we made relative to Bournemouth it may be a change but it is the same eight or nine players playing Barcelona.

"The ones who took to the field tonight are the individuals who feature in almost all the matches."

Up Next for These Sides?

The Blues' next European fixture sees them welcome Pafos on the coming Wednesday (20:00 GMT).

Atalanta, on the other hand, are at home to Athletic Club at the identical kick-off time.