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Key Moments

• The Chelsea forward gives Chelsea the advantage in the opening period.
• Atalanta the better side after the interval and equalise through Gianluca Scamacca.
• The Belgian attacker nets a last-gasp decisive goal for the hosts.
• Loss means Chelsea fall to eleventh place in the group stage of the Champions League.
• The leading eight teams progress automatically for the knockout phase.

The London club's chances of securing a place automatically for the Champions League knockout stages were suffered a setback as their Italian opponents overturned a deficit to win in their home stadium.

Both sides entered this fixture with identical records in the league phase of this season's tournament, having secured three victories, tied one, and suffered one defeat to sit on 10 points.

For much of the game there was little to separate them in this encounter too, although Chelsea got their noses in front in the opening 45 minutes when the Brazilian converted the captain's delivery.

But Atalanta always looked a danger going forwards, with former Charlton and Everton attacker causing issues for the backline.

Reece James fired wide in the second half but Atalanta raised the pressure and deservedly drew level when former West Ham United striker headed in a centering pass.

Alejandro Garnacho hammered a powerful shot straight at the keeper but Atalanta scored the winner late on when the Chelsea defence retreated from Charles de Ketelaere, who seized the opportunity with a powerful finish.

Chelsea attempted to rescue a draw in stoppage time but a superb stop by Marco Carnesecchi denied Pedro.

The outcome means Chelsea fall out of the automatic qualification places—the positions that qualify automatically for the next round—to eleventh with two league phase matches left to play.

Atalanta, meanwhile, jump up to third, three points ahead of the Londoners.

Blues Breakdown - Worrying Form Persists

This was a hugely frustrating result for Chelsea as even a draw was leaving them well placed to achieve 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 their opponents took full advantage.

The Italians are in rich vein of form at the moment so this was always going to be a difficult examination for the Blues, but they will be disappointed to be leaving with no points after securing the early advantage.

But the wider issue is that this continues Chelsea's concerning sequence of form in all tournaments.

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

Excessive Rotations Proving Costly?

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca made five changes for this game as he persisted with his policy of rotating players in and out of the starting lineup.

The changes here came after he made the same number for the defeat to Leeds and six for the tie with Bournemouth prior to the journey to Atalanta.

The coach will view rotation as vital as he tries to handle players' fitness and compete both at home and abroad, but he stated the core group 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 the Gunners," he said.

"If you see the five changes that we made compared to the previous game it is a change but it involves the eight or nine players who played Barcelona.

"The ones who took to the field this evening are the individuals who feature in almost all the matches."

Up Next for These Sides?

The Blues' next European game sees them welcome the Cypriot side on the coming Wednesday (20:00 GMT).

Atalanta, meanwhile, host Athletic Club at the same time.