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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 break and draw level through the striker.
• The Belgian attacker grabs a last-gasp winner for the hosts.
• Loss means Chelsea fall to 11th in the league phase of the tournament.
• The top eight progress automatically for the knockouts.

Chelsea's hopes of qualifying automatically for the Champions League knockouts were dealt a blow as Atalanta overturned a deficit to triumph in their home stadium.

Both sides went into this game with the same records in the league phase of this season's competition, having won, tied one, and suffered one defeat to have accrued 10 points.

For extended periods there was not much to distinguish them in this contest too, although Chelsea went ahead in the first half when the Brazilian turned in the captain's delivery.

But Atalanta remained a threat going on the attack, with ex- Premier League attacker creating problems for the backline.

Reece James shot wide in the second half but Atalanta raised the pressure and rightfully levelled when former West Ham United striker headed in a cross.

The winger drove a powerful shot straight at the goalkeeper but they got the decisive strike late on when the Blues defenders backed off Charles de Ketelaere, who seized the opportunity with a powerful strike.

Chelsea attempted to salvage a draw in stoppage time but a brilliant stop by the Atalanta goalkeeper denied Joao Pedro.

The result means Chelsea fall out of the top eight—the spots that progress automatically for the next round—to 11th with two group stage fixtures left to play.

Atalanta, in contrast, leap up to third, three points ahead of the Londoners.

Chelsea Analysis - Concerning Form Persists

This was a hugely frustrating outcome for Chelsea as even a point was keeping them well placed to achieve the top eight position they need to bypass the uncertainty of the qualifying play-off round.

But they lacked concentration in their defensive duties with seven minutes left on the clock and their opponents seized the moment.

The Italian side 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 departing with no points after securing the early advantage.

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

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

Too Many Rotations Proving Expensive?

Manager Enzo Enzo Maresca enacted five rotations for this game as he persisted with his policy of rotating players in and out of the starting lineup.

The changes here came after he implemented the same number for the defeat to Leeds and six for the tie with AFC Bournemouth prior to the trip to Atalanta.

Maresca will view squad rotation as necessary as he tries to manage players' fitness and compete both at domestically and in Europe, but he stated the central contingent of players remains the unchanged for key fixtures.

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

"If you look at the five alterations that we did relative to the previous game it may be a change but it is the eight or nine players playing in that match.

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

What Next for These Sides?

The Blues' next European game sees them host the Cypriot side on Wednesday, 21 January (8pm GMT).

The Italian team, meanwhile, host Athletic Bilbao at the identical kick-off time.