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Key Moments

• The Chelsea forward gives Chelsea the advantage in the opening period.
• Atalanta the stronger side after the break and draw level through the striker.
• The Belgian attacker grabs a last-gasp decisive goal for the home side.
• The defeat means Chelsea slide to 11th in the group stage of the tournament.
• The top eight progress automatically for the knockouts.

The London club's ambitions of securing a place automatically for the European Cup knockouts were suffered a setback as their Italian opponents fought back to triumph in their home stadium.

Each club went into this fixture with identical points tallies in the league phase of this year's competition, having won, tied one, and suffered one defeat to have accrued ten points.

For extended periods there was little to choose between them in this contest too, although Chelsea took the lead in the first half when the Brazilian finished the captain's cross.

But Atalanta always looked a threat going forward, with former Charlton and Everton attacker Ademola Lookman issues for the backline.

Reece James fired wide in the after the break but Atalanta upped the intensity and deservedly levelled when ex-West Ham striker nodded home a cross.

The winger hammered a strong effort straight at the keeper but they got the decisive strike late on when the Blues defence backed off Charles de Ketelaere, who took full advantage with a driven shot.

Chelsea attempted to rescue a point late on but a brilliant stop by Marco Carnesecchi kept out Joao Pedro.

The final score means Chelsea drop out of the automatic qualification places—the positions that progress automatically for the knockouts—to 11th with two league phase fixtures left to play.

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

Chelsea Analysis - Concerning Run Persists

This was a deeply frustrating result for Chelsea as even a draw was leaving them well placed to secure the top eight position they need to avoid the lottery of the qualifying play-off round.

But they let their concentration slip in defence with seven minutes left on the clock and Atalanta seized the moment.

The Italians are in fine fettle at the moment so this was always going to be a difficult test for the Blues, but they will be disappointed to be departing with nothing after taking the lead.

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

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

Too Many Rotations Turning Out to Be Costly?

Manager Enzo Enzo Maresca enacted five alterations for this game as he continued his strategy of moving players in and out of the starting lineup.

The changes here followed after he implemented the identical amount for the loss to Leeds United and six for the draw with AFC Bournemouth prior to the trip to Atalanta.

Maresca will see rotation as essential as he attempts to handle players' minutes and challenge both at domestically and abroad, but he stated the key nucleus of players remains the unchanged for key fixtures.

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

"If you see the five alterations that we did relative to the previous game it is different but it involves the 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 Sides?

The Blues' next Champions League game sees them host Pafos on the coming Wednesday (20:00 GMT).

The Italian team, on the other hand, host Athletic Club at the identical kick-off time.