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Key Moments

• The Chelsea forward gives Chelsea the advantage in the opening period.
• The Italian outfit the better side after the break and draw level through Gianluca Scamacca.
• Charles de Ketelaere scores a last-gasp winner for the hosts.
• Loss means Chelsea drop to 11th in the league phase of the Champions League.
• The top eight qualify automatically for the knockout phase.

Chelsea's ambitions of qualifying automatically for the European Cup knockouts were hit hard as their Italian opponents fought back to win in Bergamo.

The two teams entered this game with the same records in the league phase of this year's tournament, having secured three victories, tied one, and suffered one defeat to be on 10 points.

For large parts there was little to separate them in this encounter too, even though Chelsea took the lead in the opening 45 minutes when the Brazilian turned in Reece James' cross.

But Atalanta remained a threat going on the attack, with ex- Charlton and Everton attacker creating issues for the defence.

Reece James shot wide in the second half but the home team raised the intensity and rightfully drew level when former West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca a centering pass.

Alejandro Garnacho drove a strong effort straight at the keeper but they scored the decisive strike late on when the Blues defence retreated from the midfielder, who took full advantage with a driven finish.

Chelsea attempted to rescue a point late on but a brilliant save by Marco Carnesecchi denied Pedro.

The final score means Chelsea slip out of the automatic qualification places—the positions that qualify automatically for the next round—to 11th with two league phase matches left to play.

The Bergamo club, meanwhile, leap up to third place, three points clear of the Londoners.

Chelsea Analysis - Worrying Run Continues

This was a extremely disappointing outcome for Chelsea as even a point was leaving them well placed to secure the top eight finish they require to avoid the uncertainty of the play-offs.

But they lost focus in defence with seven minutes left on the clock and their opponents seized the moment.

The Italian side are in good form at the moment so this was always going to be a difficult examination for the visitors, but they will be frustrated to be departing with nothing after securing the early advantage.

But the bigger picture is that this perpetuates Chelsea's troubling sequence of form in all competitions.

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

Excessive Changes Proving Expensive?

Chelsea boss Maresca made five rotations for this match as he continued his policy of moving players in and out of the first team.

The rotations here came after he made the identical amount for the defeat to Leeds United and six for the draw with AFC Bournemouth prior to the trip to Atalanta.

Maresca will view rotation as essential as he attempts to handle players' fitness and compete both at home and in Europe, but he maintained the key nucleus of players remains the same for crucial games.

"I think in this match [in] the first XI we had eight or nine players who featured against Tottenham, FC Barcelona, and Arsenal," he commented.

"If you see the five alterations that we did compared 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 tonight are the individuals playing almost all the matches."

What Next for These Teams?

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

The Italian team, meanwhile, host Athletic Club at the same time.