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Key Moments

• The Chelsea forward hands Chelsea the advantage in the opening period.
• Atalanta the better side after the interval and draw level through Gianluca Scamacca.
• Charles de Ketelaere nets a late decisive goal for the home side.
• Loss means Chelsea drop to 11th in the group stage of the tournament.
• The top eight qualify automatically for the last 16.

Chelsea's ambitions of securing a place automatically for the European Cup knockouts were suffered a setback as their Italian opponents came from behind to triumph in Bergamo.

Both sides went into this fixture with matching points tallies in the initial stage of this year's tournament, having won, drawn, and lost to sit on ten points.

For large parts there was not much to distinguish them in this encounter too, although Chelsea got their noses in front in the opening 45 minutes when the Brazilian finished Reece James' cross.

But Atalanta consistently appeared a threat going on the attack, with ex- Charlton and Everton attacker causing issues for the backline.

Reece James shot wide in the after the break but Atalanta upped the pressure and deservedly equalised when ex-West Ham striker nodded home a cross.

The winger hammered a powerful shot straight at the keeper but Atalanta got the winning goal in the closing stages when the Blues defenders retreated from Charles de Ketelaere, who took full advantage with a driven finish.

The visitors tried to salvage a point late on but a superb save by Marco Carnesecchi denied Pedro.

The outcome means Chelsea fall out of the automatic qualification places—the spots that qualify automatically for the knockouts—to eleventh with two group stage matches remaining.

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

Chelsea Analysis - Concerning Form Continues

This was a hugely disappointing result for Chelsea as even a draw was leaving them well placed to achieve the top eight finish they need to avoid the uncertainty of the play-offs.

But they let their concentration slip in defence with seven minutes remaining and their opponents took full advantage.

The Italian side are in rich vein of form at the moment so this was always going to be a challenging examination for the visitors, but they will be frustrated to be departing with nothing after securing the lead.

But the bigger picture is that this extends Chelsea's worrying sequence of form in all competitions.

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

Excessive Changes Turning Out to Be Costly?

Chelsea boss Maresca made five changes for this game as he continued his strategy of moving players in and out of the starting lineup.

The changes here followed after he made the identical amount for the defeat to Leeds United and six for the draw with Bournemouth prior to the journey to Bergamo.

Maresca will view squad rotation as vital as he tries to handle players' workloads and compete both at home and abroad, but he stated the key nucleus of players stays the unchanged for important fixtures.

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

"If you look at the five alterations that we made compared to Bournemouth it is a change but it involves the same eight or nine players who played Barcelona.

"The ones who played this evening are the ones playing almost all the matches."

What Next for These Sides?

The Blues' next Champions League game sees them welcome Pafos on the coming Wednesday (8pm GMT).

Atalanta, meanwhile, are at home to Athletic Bilbao at the identical kick-off time.