🔗 Share this article Chelsea's Automatic Qualification Ambitions Dealt a Blow by Defeat at Atalanta Atalanta have won four of their past five games in all competitions. At a Glance The Chelsea forward gives Chelsea the advantage in the opening period. The Italian outfit the better side after the interval and draw level through Gianluca Scamacca. Charles de Ketelaere nets a last-gasp winner for the hosts. Loss means Chelsea drop to eleventh place in the league phase of the tournament. The top eight qualify automatically for the knockout phase. Chelsea's hopes of qualifying automatically for the European Cup knockouts were dealt a blow as Atalanta came from behind to triumph in Bergamo. The two teams entered this match with matching records in the league phase of this season's competition, having secured three victories, drawn, and lost to have accrued ten points. For large parts there was very little to choose between them in this encounter too, although Chelsea went ahead in the first half when Joao Pedro converted the captain's cross. But The Serie A side always looked a threat going on the attack, with ex- Premier League attacker causing problems for the defence. James shot wide in the after the break but Atalanta increased the pressure and rightfully levelled when former West Ham United striker headed in a cross. The winger drove a strong effort straight at the goalkeeper but they got the winner late on when the Chelsea defenders retreated from the midfielder, who took full advantage with a driven finish. The visitors tried to salvage a point in stoppage time but a superb save by the Atalanta goalkeeper denied Joao Pedro. The final score means Chelsea fall out of the top eight—the positions that qualify automatically for the next round—to 11th with two group stage games remaining. The Bergamo club, in contrast, leap up to third, three points ahead of the Blues. Chelsea Analysis - Worrying Sequence Continues This was a hugely disappointing outcome for Chelsea as even a point was keeping them well placed to secure the top-eight finish they need to avoid the uncertainty of the qualifying play-off round. But they let their concentration slip in their defensive duties with seven minutes remaining and their opponents capitalised completely. The Italian side are in good form at the moment so this was always going to be a difficult test for the Blues, but they will be frustrated to be departing with no points after taking the lead. But the wider issue is that this continues Chelsea's worrying run of form in all tournaments. Since defeating the Spanish giants 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 rotating players in and out of the first team. The changes here followed after he made the same number for the loss to Leeds United and six for the draw with AFC Bournemouth prior to the journey to Atalanta. Maresca will see rotation as vital as he attempts to manage players' minutes and compete both at home and abroad, but he stated the core group of players stays the unchanged for important fixtures. "I think tonight [in] the starting lineup we had eight or nine players who featured against Tottenham, FC Barcelona, and Arsenal," he commented. "If you look at the five changes that we did compared to the previous game it is a change but it involves the same eight or nine players playing in that match. "The players who took to the field tonight are the ones playing almost all the matches." What's Next for These Clubs? Chelsea's next Champions League fixture sees them welcome Pafos on the coming Wednesday (8pm GMT). Atalanta, on the other hand, are at home to Athletic Bilbao at the identical kick-off time.