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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 Gianluca Scamacca.
• The Belgian attacker grabs a late 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 qualify automatically for the knockouts.

Chelsea's hopes of qualifying automatically for the European Cup knockout stages were suffered a setback as Atalanta overturned a deficit to triumph in their home stadium.

Each club went into this game with matching points tallies in the initial stage of this season's competition, having secured three victories, drawn, and suffered one defeat to have accrued ten points.

For extended periods there was little to distinguish them in this contest too, although Chelsea got their noses in front in the opening 45 minutes when Joao Pedro turned in the captain's cross.

But The Serie A side consistently appeared a danger going forward, with former Charlton and Everton attacker Ademola Lookman problems for the defence.

Reece James fired wide in the after the break but the home team raised the intensity and deservedly equalised when former West Ham United striker headed in a centering pass.

Alejandro Garnacho drove a powerful shot straight at the goalkeeper but Atalanta scored the decisive strike late on when the Chelsea defenders retreated from the midfielder, who seized the opportunity with a low strike.

The visitors attempted to rescue a point late on but a excellent stop by the Atalanta goalkeeper denied Joao Pedro.

The final score means Chelsea drop out of the automatic qualification places—the positions that qualify automatically for the knockouts—to 11th with two group stage games left to play.

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

Blues Breakdown - Worrying Form Persists

This was a hugely disappointing result for Chelsea as even a point was keeping them in a strong position to secure the top eight finish they require to avoid the lottery of the qualifying play-off round.

But they lost focus in defence with seven minutes remaining and Atalanta seized the moment.

The Italian side are in rich vein of form at the moment so this was always going to be a challenging test for the Blues, but they will be annoyed to be departing with no points after securing the lead.

But the broader context is that this extends Chelsea's concerning run of form in all competitions.

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

Excessive Changes Turning Out to Be Expensive?

Manager Enzo Enzo Maresca made five alterations for this match as he persisted with his strategy of moving 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 tie with Bournemouth prior to the journey to Atalanta.

The coach will see squad rotation as essential as he attempts to manage players' minutes and compete both at domestically and in Europe, but he maintained the central contingent of players remains the same for crucial fixtures.

"I think in this match [in] the starting lineup we had eight or nine players who featured against Tottenham, FC Barcelona, and the Gunners," he said.

"If you look at the five alterations that we did compared to the previous game it may be different but it is the eight or nine players who played Barcelona.

"The players who played this evening are the individuals who feature in almost all the games."

What's Next for These Clubs?

The Blues' next Champions League game sees them host the Cypriot side on Wednesday, 21 January (20:00 GMT).

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