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Key Moments

• The Chelsea forward gives Chelsea the advantage in the first half.
• Atalanta the better side after the interval and equalise through the striker.
• Charles de Ketelaere grabs a last-gasp winner for the home side.
• Loss means Chelsea slide to eleventh place in the league phase of the Champions League.
• The leading eight teams qualify automatically for the knockouts.

The London club's ambitions of securing a place automatically for the Champions League knockout stages were hit hard as Atalanta overturned a deficit to triumph in their home stadium.

Each club entered this game with identical records in the initial stage of this year's tournament, having secured three victories, drawn, and lost to be on ten points.

For much of the game there was little to distinguish them in this encounter too, even though Chelsea went ahead in the opening 45 minutes when the Brazilian converted the captain's delivery.

But Atalanta consistently appeared a danger going forward, with ex- Charlton and Everton attacker Ademola Lookman problems for the backline.

Reece James shot wide in the second half but Atalanta increased the intensity and justly equalised when former West Ham United striker nodded home a centering pass.

Alejandro Garnacho hammered a strong effort straight at the keeper but Atalanta got the winning goal late on when the Blues defenders backed off Charles de Ketelaere, who took full advantage with a powerful finish.

The visitors tried to salvage a point late on but a superb stop by Marco Carnesecchi kept out Pedro.

The result means Chelsea fall out of the automatic qualification places—the positions that qualify automatically for the next round—to eleventh with two group stage games left to play.

The Bergamo club, meanwhile, leap up to third, three points ahead of the Blues.

Chelsea Analysis - Concerning Form Continues

This was a hugely frustrating outcome for Chelsea as even a draw was keeping them in a strong position to achieve the top eight position they require to bypass 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 fine fettle at the moment so this was always going to be a challenging examination for the visitors, but they will be frustrated to be departing with nothing after securing the lead.

But the broader context is that this continues Chelsea's troubling sequence of form in all tournaments.

Since defeating Barcelona 3-0 at the end of November they are now winless in their last four outings.

Too Many Changes Turning Out to Be Costly?

Chelsea boss Maresca made five changes for this match as he persisted with his policy of moving players in and out of the starting lineup.

The rotations here came after he made the same number for the defeat to Leeds and six for the tie with AFC Bournemouth prior to the journey to Bergamo.

Maresca will view squad rotation as vital as he attempts to handle players' minutes and compete both at domestically and in Europe, but he stated the central contingent of players stays the same for important fixtures.

"I believe 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 look at the five alterations that we made compared to Bournemouth it may be different but it involves the same eight or nine players playing Barcelona.

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

What Next for These Teams?

The Blues' next European game sees them host Pafos on the coming Wednesday (8pm GMT).

Atalanta, on the other hand, are at home to Athletic Club at the identical kick-off time.