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Key Moments

• Joao Pedro hands Chelsea the lead in the first half.
• Atalanta the better side after the break and draw level through Gianluca Scamacca.
• Charles de Ketelaere nets a late winner for the home side.
• The defeat means Chelsea drop to eleventh place in the league phase of the Champions League.
• The top eight qualify automatically for the knockouts.

The London club's chances of qualifying automatically for the European Cup knockouts were dealt a blow as their Italian opponents came from behind to triumph in Bergamo.

The two teams went into this fixture with the same records in the initial stage of this year's tournament, having won, tied one, and lost to sit on 10 points.

For much of the game there was very little to separate them in this contest too, although Chelsea took the lead in the first half when the Brazilian finished the captain's delivery.

But Atalanta always looked a danger going forwards, with former Premier League attacker Ademola Lookman issues for the defence.

James shot wide in the after the break but Atalanta increased the pressure and justly levelled when ex-West Ham striker nodded home a cross.

Alejandro Garnacho drove a strong effort straight at the keeper but Atalanta secured the winning goal in the closing stages when the Chelsea defence retreated from the midfielder, who made no mistake with a driven shot.

The visitors tried to rescue a point in stoppage time but a excellent stop by the Atalanta goalkeeper kept out Joao Pedro.

The final score means Chelsea drop out of the top eight—the spots that progress automatically for the knockouts—to eleventh with two league phase games left to play.

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

Blues Breakdown - 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 need to avoid the uncertainty of the qualifying play-off round.

But they let their concentration slip in defence with seven minutes left on the clock and their opponents took full advantage.

The Italian side are in good form at the moment so this was always going to be a challenging examination for the Blues, but they will be frustrated to be leaving with no points after taking the early advantage.

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

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

Excessive Changes Turning Out to Be Expensive?

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca made five alterations for this match as he continued his run of rotating players in and out of the first team.

The changes here came after he implemented the identical amount for the defeat to Leeds and six for the tie with AFC Bournemouth prior to the trip to Bergamo.

The coach will see rotation as vital as he attempts to handle players' workloads and compete both at domestically and abroad, but he insisted the central contingent of players remains the same for crucial fixtures.

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

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

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

What Next for These Sides?

Chelsea's next Champions League fixture sees them welcome Pafos on the coming Wednesday (20:00 GMT).

The Italian team, meanwhile, are at home to Athletic Bilbao at the identical kick-off time.