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Key Moments

• Joao Pedro gives Chelsea the lead in the opening period.
• Atalanta the stronger side after the break and equalise through Gianluca Scamacca.
• The Belgian attacker nets a late winner for the hosts.
• Loss means Chelsea fall to 11th in the league phase of the Champions League.
• The leading eight teams qualify automatically for the knockout phase.

The London club's hopes of securing a place automatically for the Champions League knockout stages were hit hard as their Italian opponents came from behind to win in Bergamo.

Each club went into this match with matching points tallies in the initial stage of this season's tournament, having secured three victories, drawn, and suffered one defeat to sit on 10 points.

For much of the game there was very little to choose between them in this contest too, although Chelsea took the lead in the opening 45 minutes when Joao Pedro finished Reece James' cross.

But Atalanta always looked a danger going forwards, with former Charlton and Everton attacker causing issues for the backline.

James fired wide in the second half but the home team upped the intensity and justly drew level when former West Ham United striker headed in a cross.

Alejandro Garnacho hammered a strong effort straight at the goalkeeper but Atalanta secured the decisive strike late on when the Chelsea defenders retreated from the midfielder, who seized the opportunity with a low finish.

The visitors attempted to rescue a point in stoppage time but a superb stop by Marco Carnesecchi denied Joao Pedro.

The outcome means Chelsea drop out of the automatic qualification places—the positions that qualify automatically for the next round—to 11th with two group stage games remaining.

Atalanta, meanwhile, climb up to third, three points clear of the Blues.

Chelsea Analysis - Worrying Run Persists

This was a hugely frustrating outcome for Chelsea as even a draw was leaving them in a strong position to achieve the top-eight finish they need to bypass the uncertainty of the play-offs.

But they let their concentration slip in defence 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 difficult examination for the Blues, but they will be annoyed to be leaving with nothing after taking the early advantage.

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

Since defeating the Spanish giants 3-0 at the close of November they are now winless in their last four games.

Excessive Changes Turning Out to Be Expensive?

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

The rotations here followed after he implemented the same number for the defeat to Leeds and six for the draw with Bournemouth prior to the journey to Bergamo.

Maresca will view rotation as vital as he tries to manage players' fitness and challenge both at domestically and in Europe, but he maintained the central contingent of players stays the unchanged for crucial games.

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

"If you look at the five alterations that we made compared to Bournemouth it may be a change but it is the eight or nine players who played in that match.

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

What Next for These Clubs?

Chelsea's next European fixture sees them host the Cypriot side on the coming Wednesday (20:00 GMT).

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