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Match Summary

• Joao Pedro gives Chelsea the lead in the first half.
• Atalanta the stronger side after the interval and draw level through the striker.
• Charles de Ketelaere grabs a late decisive goal for the home side.
• The defeat means Chelsea fall to eleventh place in the league phase of the Champions League.
• The top eight qualify automatically for the knockouts.

Chelsea's ambitions of qualifying automatically for the European Cup knockout stages were dealt a blow as Atalanta overturned a deficit to win in Bergamo.

Each club entered this match with identical records in the league phase of this season's tournament, having won, tied one, and suffered one defeat to have accrued 10 points.

For extended periods there was little to separate them in this contest too, although Chelsea took the lead in the first half when the Brazilian converted Reece James' delivery.

But Atalanta remained a danger going on the attack, with ex- Charlton and Everton attacker creating issues for the defence.

James shot wide in the second half but the home team increased the intensity and justly levelled when former West Ham United striker headed in a centering pass.

The winger drove a powerful shot straight at the goalkeeper but they secured the winning goal late on when the Chelsea defence retreated from the midfielder, who took full advantage with a low strike.

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

The outcome means Chelsea fall out of the top eight—the positions that progress automatically for the next round—to 11th with two group stage matches remaining.

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

Chelsea Analysis - Worrying Sequence Persists

This was a hugely disappointing outcome for Chelsea as even a point was leaving them well placed to achieve the top eight position they need to avoid the lottery of the play-offs.

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

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 annoyed to be departing with nothing after securing the early advantage.

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

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

Too Many Changes Proving Expensive?

Chelsea boss 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 loss to Leeds and six for the tie with Bournemouth prior to the trip to Atalanta.

The coach will view rotation as vital as he attempts to handle players' workloads and compete both at home and abroad, but he maintained the core group of players remains the same for key fixtures.

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

"If you see the five alterations that we did compared to the previous game it is a change but it is the same eight or nine players playing in that match.

"The ones who took to the field tonight are the individuals who feature in almost all the matches."

Up Next for These Clubs?

The Blues' next Champions League fixture sees them welcome the Cypriot side on the coming Wednesday (20:00 GMT).

The Italian team, meanwhile, host Athletic Bilbao at the same time.