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Key Moments

• The Chelsea forward hands Chelsea the advantage in the opening period.
• The Italian outfit the stronger side after the interval and equalise through the striker.
• Charles de Ketelaere grabs a last-gasp decisive goal for the home side.
• Loss means Chelsea fall to 11th in the league phase of the Champions League.
• The top eight qualify automatically for the knockout phase.

The London club's hopes of securing a place automatically for the European Cup knockouts were dealt a blow as their Italian opponents came from behind to win in their home stadium.

Both sides went into this fixture with matching points tallies in the league phase of this season's tournament, having secured three victories, tied one, and lost to have accrued 10 points.

For much of the game 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 the captain's delivery.

But Atalanta always looked a threat going forwards, with ex- Charlton and Everton attacker Ademola Lookman issues for the backline.

Reece James fired wide in the second half but Atalanta upped the pressure and justly levelled when former West Ham United striker headed in a cross.

Alejandro Garnacho hammered a powerful shot straight at the keeper but Atalanta got the winner late on when the Blues defenders retreated from Charles de Ketelaere, who made no mistake with a low strike.

Chelsea tried to rescue a draw late on but a brilliant stop by the Atalanta goalkeeper kept out Joao Pedro.

The outcome means Chelsea fall out of the automatic qualification places—the positions that qualify automatically for the knockouts—to 11th with two group stage matches left to play.

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

Chelsea Analysis - Concerning Run Continues

This was a hugely frustrating outcome for Chelsea as even a draw was keeping them well placed to secure 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 left on the clock and Atalanta seized the moment.

The Italians are in rich vein of form at the moment so this was always going to be a difficult examination for the visitors, but they will be annoyed to be leaving with no points after taking the early advantage.

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

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

Excessive Rotations Turning Out to Be Expensive?

Manager Enzo Enzo Maresca made five alterations for this game as he continued his run of rotating players in and out of the starting lineup.

The rotations here followed after he implemented the identical amount for the defeat to Leeds and six for the draw with Bournemouth prior to the trip to Atalanta.

The coach will see rotation as essential as he attempts to manage players' fitness and compete both at home and abroad, but he stated the key nucleus of players remains the same for important games.

"I believe tonight [in] the first XI we had eight or nine players who featured against Tottenham, Barcelona, and the Gunners," he commented.

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

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

What's Next for These Clubs?

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

Atalanta, meanwhile, host Athletic Club at the identical kick-off time.