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Key Moments

• The Chelsea forward gives Chelsea the lead in the first half.
• Atalanta the stronger side after the break and equalise through the striker.
• The Belgian attacker nets a late decisive goal for the home side.
• Loss means Chelsea fall to 11th in the group stage of the Champions League.
• The leading eight teams qualify automatically for the knockouts.

Chelsea's chances of qualifying automatically for the Champions League knockout stages were dealt a blow as Atalanta fought back to win in their home stadium.

Both sides went into this game with identical records in the league phase of this year's competition, having secured three victories, tied one, and suffered one defeat to have accrued 10 points.

For much of the game there was not much to separate them in this encounter too, although Chelsea took the lead in the opening 45 minutes when the Brazilian converted Reece James' delivery.

But Atalanta remained a threat going forward, with former Charlton and Everton attacker Ademola Lookman issues for the defence.

Reece James shot wide in the after the break but Atalanta raised the pressure and deservedly equalised when former West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca a cross.

Alejandro Garnacho hammered a strong effort straight at the keeper but they scored the winner late on when the Chelsea defenders backed off the midfielder, who took full advantage with a low shot.

Chelsea tried to salvage a point in stoppage time but a excellent save by the Atalanta goalkeeper denied Joao Pedro.

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

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

Chelsea Analysis - Concerning Run Persists

This was a deeply disappointing result for Chelsea as even a point was keeping them in a strong position to achieve the top-eight finish they require to bypass the lottery of the play-offs.

But they lacked concentration in defence 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 difficult test for the visitors, but they will be disappointed to be leaving with nothing after taking the lead.

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

Since defeating Barcelona 3-0 at the end of November they are now without a win in their last four outings.

Excessive Changes Turning Out to Be Costly?

Manager Enzo Maresca made five changes for this match as he continued his policy of moving players in and out of the first team.

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

The coach will view rotation as vital as he tries to manage players' fitness and compete both at domestically and abroad, but he stated the core group of players remains the same for important games.

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

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

"The ones who took to the field tonight are the ones playing almost all the matches."

What Next for These Sides?

Chelsea's next European fixture sees them host Pafos on Wednesday, 21 January (20:00 GMT).

Atalanta, on the other hand, host Athletic Bilbao at the identical kick-off time.