Atalanta came from behind to defeat Chelsea 2-1 in their Champions League clash in Bergamo on Tuesday. João Pedro gave Chelsea the lead, but Gianluca Scamacca and Charles De Ketelaere scored to secure the win for the hosts. The result marks Chelsea's second defeat in the league phase.
Chelsea took the lead in the 25th minute when João Pedro ended his four-game goal drought by steering in Reece James' low cross to the near post. The goal was initially ruled out for offside against James but was awarded after a VAR check overturned the decision. Atalanta had threatened early, with Gianluca Scamacca and Marten de Roon going close in the 19th minute.
Chelsea started the second half brightly, with James firing wide from close range, but their profligacy was punished in the 55th minute. Scamacca rose to head in De Ketelaere's right-wing cross to restore parity. Atalanta grew into the game, and with seven minutes left, De Ketelaere surged into space and fired a low shot that crept under Robert Sanchez's hand into the bottom corner for the winner.
Chelsea pushed for an equalizer, but Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi was rarely troubled. The defeat damages Chelsea's top-eight ambitions in the Champions League league phase.
Atalanta starting XI: Carnesecchi, Kossounou, Djimsiti, Kolasinac, Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Bernasconi, De Ketelaere, Scamacca, Lookman.
Chelsea starting XI: Sanchez, Chalobah, Acheampong, Badiashile, Cucurella, Caicedo, James, Neto, Enzo, Gittens, Pedro.
