Chelsea face Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League league phase on Tuesday evening. The Blues seek to build on their strong start in the competition despite a recent winless run in domestic matches. Atalanta, holding an identical record to Chelsea this season, enter the clash after a Serie A defeat.
Match Preview
Chelsea travel to Bergamo for a UEFA Champions League league phase encounter against Atalanta on Tuesday, December 10, 2025, with kick-off at 20:00 GMT. This marks the first meeting between the two sides. Enzo Maresca's Chelsea have enjoyed a solid beginning in the competition but have not won their last four away games in the Champions League. They earned just one point from their last two Premier League outings: a 3-1 defeat at Leeds United and a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth.
Atalanta, meanwhile, snapped a three-game winning streak across all competitions with a 3-1 Serie A loss to Verona on Saturday. The Italian outfit has won only one of their previous seven Champions League games against English teams. Both clubs share identical records in the league phase so far this season, setting up a competitive fixture at Stadio di Bergamo.
Team News
Atalanta remain without forward Kamaldeen Sulemana and versatile player Mitchel Bakker, though former Chelsea defender Davide Zappacosta is available. Midfielders Yunus Musah and Marten de Roon must avoid yellow cards to be eligible for their next home game against Arsenal on January 20.
Chelsea have several absentees for the trip. Cole Palmer stays home as he continues his return to fitness, while forward Liam Delap is sidelined with a shoulder injury. Long-term injuries rule out defender Levi Colwill and midfielder Romeo Lavia. Dario Essugo also did not travel. Andrey Santos risks suspension for the January 21 visit to Pafos if booked. Notable inclusions in the travelling squad are Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Marc Cucurella, Estevao Willian, and Reece James.
Expected Line-ups
Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Hien, Djimsiti; Bellanova, Ederson, Pasalic, Zalewski; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Scamacca.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Acheampong, Chalobah, Hato; Caicedo, Santos; Estevao, Fernandez, Neto; Pedro.
Key Stats
- Atalanta have recorded eight clean sheets in 15 Champions League games since the start of last season, a 53% rate.
- Chelsea's passing accuracy stands at 89.3% this season, their highest on record since 2003-04.
- This is Chelsea's first away game against an Italian side since a 2-0 win at AC Milan in October 2022.
The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
