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Key Moments

• The Chelsea forward gives Chelsea the lead in the first half.
• Atalanta the better side after the interval and equalise through the striker.
• The Belgian attacker nets a last-gasp winner for the home side.
• Loss means Chelsea fall to 11th in the league phase of the tournament.
• The top eight qualify automatically for the last 16.

The London club's hopes of qualifying automatically for the European Cup knockout stages were hit hard as their Italian opponents came from behind to triumph in their home stadium.

The two teams went into this match with matching points tallies in the league phase of this year's tournament, having secured three victories, drawn, and suffered one defeat to have accrued 10 points.

For extended periods there was not much to distinguish them in this contest too, even though Chelsea went ahead in the opening 45 minutes when Joao Pedro finished Reece James' delivery.

But Atalanta remained a threat going forwards, with ex- Charlton and Everton attacker Ademola Lookman problems for the defence.

Reece James fired wide in the after the break but the home team upped the intensity and justly equalised when former West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca a cross.

Alejandro Garnacho drove a strong effort straight at the keeper but they secured the winning goal in the closing stages when the Blues defence retreated from the midfielder, who took full advantage with a low finish.

The visitors tried to salvage a point in stoppage time but a superb save by Marco Carnesecchi denied Joao Pedro.

The outcome means Chelsea fall out of the top eight—the positions that qualify automatically for the next round—to 11th with two league phase games remaining.

The Bergamo club, in contrast, jump up to third, three points clear of the Londoners.

Chelsea Analysis - Worrying Run Continues

This was a deeply disappointing outcome for Chelsea as even a point was leaving them in a strong position to secure the top-eight position they need to bypass the uncertainty of the play-offs.

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

The Italians are in good form at the moment so this was always going to be a challenging test for the Blues, but they will be frustrated to be departing with no points after taking the lead.

But the wider issue is that this extends Chelsea's concerning run of results in all competitions.

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 changes for this game as he continued his run of rotating players in and out of the starting lineup.

The changes here followed after he implemented the identical amount for the loss to Leeds United and six for the tie with Bournemouth prior to the journey to Bergamo.

The coach will see squad rotation as vital as he attempts to handle players' minutes and compete both at home and abroad, but he maintained the key nucleus of players stays the same for important fixtures.

"I think tonight [in] the first XI we had eight or nine players who featured against Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona, and Arsenal," he said.

"If you see the five changes that we made relative to Bournemouth it is a change but it is the same eight or nine players playing Barcelona.

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

What Next for These Clubs?

The Blues' next Champions League game sees them welcome Pafos on Wednesday, 21 January (8pm GMT).

Atalanta, meanwhile, host Athletic Bilbao at the same time.