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Match Summary

• Joao Pedro gives Chelsea the lead in the first half.
• The Italian outfit the stronger side after the break and draw level through Gianluca Scamacca.
• The Belgian attacker grabs a last-gasp decisive goal for the hosts.
• Loss means Chelsea drop to eleventh place in the group stage of the tournament.
• The leading eight teams progress automatically for the knockout phase.

Chelsea's ambitions of qualifying automatically for the Champions League knockout stages were dealt a blow as their Italian opponents overturned a deficit to claim victory in Bergamo.

Both sides went into this match with the same records in the initial stage of this season's competition, having secured three victories, drawn, and suffered one defeat to sit on 10 points.

For much of the game there was not much to choose between them in this contest too, even though Chelsea went ahead in the opening 45 minutes when Joao Pedro finished the captain's delivery.

But Atalanta consistently appeared a danger going on the attack, with former Charlton and Everton attacker causing problems for the defence.

James shot wide in the after the break but the home team upped the intensity and rightfully levelled when former West Ham United striker headed in a centering pass.

The winger drove a powerful shot straight at the keeper but they secured the decisive strike late on when the Chelsea defence retreated from Charles de Ketelaere, who made no mistake with a low shot.

Chelsea tried to rescue a point late on but a superb save by the Atalanta goalkeeper denied Joao Pedro.

The final score means Chelsea fall out of the automatic qualification places—the positions that progress automatically for the next round—to eleventh with two league phase fixtures remaining.

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

Chelsea Analysis - Worrying Form Persists

This was a deeply frustrating result for Chelsea as even a draw was keeping them in a strong position to achieve the top eight finish they need to avoid the lottery of the qualifying play-off round.

But they let their concentration slip in their defensive duties with seven minutes remaining and their opponents capitalised completely.

The Italian side are in fine fettle at the moment so this was always going to be a tough examination for the Blues, but they will be disappointed to be leaving with no points after taking the early advantage.

But the bigger picture is that this extends Chelsea's worrying streak of results in all tournaments.

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

Excessive Rotations Turning Out to Be Expensive?

Chelsea boss Maresca enacted five alterations for this match as he persisted with his strategy of rotating players in and out of the first team.

The rotations here followed after he made the same number for the defeat to Leeds United and six for the draw with AFC Bournemouth prior to the journey to Bergamo.

Maresca will see rotation as necessary as he attempts to handle players' fitness and challenge both at domestically and in Europe, but he stated the key nucleus of players remains the same for crucial fixtures.

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

"If you see the five changes that we made relative to the previous game it may be a change but it is the same eight or nine players playing in that match.

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

What Next for These Sides?

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

The Italian team, on the other hand, host Athletic Club at the same time.