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Key Moments

• The Chelsea forward hands Chelsea the advantage in the opening period.
• The Italian outfit the stronger side after the break and draw level through the striker.
• The Belgian attacker nets a last-gasp decisive goal for the hosts.
• The defeat means Chelsea drop to eleventh place in the league phase of the Champions League.
• The leading eight teams progress automatically for the knockouts.

Chelsea's chances of qualifying automatically for the Champions League knockout stages were dealt a blow as their Italian opponents overturned a deficit to claim victory in Bergamo.

Both sides went into this game with the same points tallies in the league phase of this season's competition, having secured three victories, drawn, and suffered one defeat to sit on 10 points.

For large parts there was little to choose between them in this contest too, although Chelsea went ahead in the first half when Joao Pedro turned in Reece James' cross.

But The Serie A side always looked a threat going on the attack, with former Charlton and Everton attacker Ademola Lookman problems for the defence.

James shot wide in the second half but Atalanta raised the pressure and justly equalised when ex-West Ham striker headed in a cross.

The winger hammered a powerful shot straight at the keeper but Atalanta got the winner late on when the Blues defenders backed off the midfielder, who made no mistake with a powerful finish.

The visitors tried to rescue a draw in stoppage time but a excellent save by Marco Carnesecchi kept out Joao Pedro.

The outcome means Chelsea fall out of the automatic qualification places—the positions that progress automatically for the knockouts—to 11th with two group stage games remaining.

The Bergamo club, in contrast, leap up to third place, three points ahead of the Londoners.

Chelsea Analysis - Concerning Run Continues

This was a extremely disappointing result for Chelsea as even a draw was leaving them in a strong position to achieve the top-eight position they require to bypass the lottery of the qualifying play-off round.

But they let their concentration slip in defence with seven minutes remaining and their opponents seized the moment.

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 frustrated to be departing with no points after securing the lead.

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

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

Too Many Changes Turning Out to Be Expensive?

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca enacted five changes for this match as he persisted with his run of rotating players in and out of the starting 11.

The changes here followed after he made the same number for the defeat to Leeds United and six for the draw with Bournemouth prior to the trip to Bergamo.

Maresca will see rotation as necessary as he tries to handle players' fitness and challenge both at home and abroad, but he maintained the core group of players remains the same for crucial games.

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

"If you look at the five changes that we did relative to the previous game it may be a change but it is the same eight or nine players who played in that match.

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

What Next for These Clubs?

Chelsea's next Champions League fixture sees them host the Cypriot side on Wednesday, 21 January (20:00 GMT).

Atalanta, meanwhile, are at home to Athletic Bilbao at the same time.