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Key Moments

• The Chelsea forward hands Chelsea the advantage 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 winner for the home side.
• Loss means Chelsea drop to 11th in the group stage of the Champions League.
• The leading eight teams qualify automatically for the knockout phase.

Chelsea's chances of qualifying automatically for the European Cup knockout stages were hit hard as their Italian opponents fought back to win in their home stadium.

The two teams entered this match with the same points tallies in the league phase of this year's competition, having secured three victories, tied one, and lost to sit on 10 points.

For large parts there was little to separate them in this encounter too, even though Chelsea got their noses in front in the opening 45 minutes when the Brazilian finished the captain's delivery.

But The Serie A side always looked a threat going forwards, with ex- Charlton and Everton attacker creating problems for the backline.

Reece James shot wide in the second half but the home team upped the intensity and rightfully levelled when former West Ham United striker nodded home a cross.

Alejandro Garnacho drove a powerful shot straight at the keeper but they got the decisive strike late on when the Chelsea defenders retreated from Charles de Ketelaere, who took full advantage with a powerful finish.

The visitors tried to rescue a draw in stoppage time but a excellent save by the Atalanta goalkeeper denied Joao Pedro.

The result means Chelsea fall out of the automatic qualification places—the positions that progress automatically for the knockouts—to 11th with two league phase games left to play.

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

Blues Breakdown - Worrying Run Persists

This was a deeply frustrating outcome for Chelsea as even a point was keeping them well placed to secure the top eight finish they need to avoid the uncertainty of the play-offs.

But they lacked concentration in defence with seven minutes left on the clock and Atalanta took full advantage.

The Italian side are in good form at the moment so this was always going to be a tough test for the Blues, but they will be frustrated to be leaving with nothing after securing the early advantage.

But the wider issue is that this extends Chelsea's worrying sequence of form in all tournaments.

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

Too Many Changes Turning Out to Be Expensive?

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca made five alterations for this game as he continued his run of moving players in and out of the first team.

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

The coach will view rotation as necessary as he attempts to handle players' minutes and challenge both at home and in Europe, but he maintained the core group of players remains the unchanged for crucial games.

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

"If you see the five changes that we did compared to the previous game it is different but it involves the eight or nine players playing in that match.

"The players who played tonight are the individuals playing almost all the games."

What's Next for These Teams?

Chelsea's next Champions League game sees them welcome the Cypriot side on the coming Wednesday (8pm GMT).

Atalanta, on the other hand, are at home to Athletic Club at the same time.