Match report - Atalanta 2-1 Chelsea
A goal in the final 10 minutes sees the Blues lose away to Atalanta in the champions league
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| A dejected Chelsea team walk off after suffering a 2-1 defeat away to Atalanta |
Five changes
Having left Cole Palmer out of the squad due to Chelsea wanting to manage his workload and Liam Delap being out with a dislocated shoulder injury, the Blues were always going to make changes and there were five changes made to the side which drew 0-0 away at Bournemouth.
There was a start for Benoit Badiashile in the heart of the Blues defence over Wesley Fofana and there was a start for Josh Acheampong with the youngster starting at right back.
The three game ban to Moises Caicedo does not apply in European fixtures and so there was a return for the Ecuadorian, while Jamie Gittens started on the left with Joao Pedro replacing Liam Delap up top.
It was clear early on that when Chelsea had the ball that the defence become a back three with Benoit Badiashile moving over to the left side and Marc Cucurella pushing into the number 10 role as Chelsea looked to create overloads in the final final third.
However, it was the hosts who had the first opportunity of the game as some clever build up play saw former Charlton and Everton winger Ademola Lookman make a burst into the box down the hosts left hand side however, his shot from a tight angle was well saved by Robert Sanchez before Charles De Ketelaere was unable to adjust his feet quickly enough in order to put the rebound in.
As the early stages of the game went on Atalanta began to dominate possession before Chelsea worked their way into the game. However, on the 19th minute mark the Blues needed an outstanding last minute ditch block from Josh Acheampong to deny Lookman what looked to be a certain goal as he slid in yards from the Blues goal after Chalobah had blocked Scamaccas initial effort.
Chelsea ahead
However, It was the Blues who took the lead midway through the first half. The goal came as a result of Chelsea being patient with a short corner with Reece James doing well to hold his run onto Enzo Fernandez's long ball, with his low left footed cross poked in by the diving Joao Pedro.
The goal was initially ruled out for offside with James being adamant that he had held his run. and after a check by VAR the goal was given.
The man to man pressing by Chelsea on Atalanta when the hosts had the ball was starting to bear fruit as the first half progressed, the Blues regularly ending the hosts attacks in their own half and looking to rebuild before the interval.
Chalobah, who had already been booked was replaced in the second half by Wesley Fofana, and the Blues were first to go close with a Reece James effort on the box getting blocked before dragging the follow up wide from 18 yards.
Atalanta thought that they had the equaliser soon after when Ademola Lookman stabbed home a cross from the right hand side however, the Nigerian international was well offside.
The early stages of the second half was a lot more end to end with Chelsea having another chance off the back of Jamie Gittens striking a ferocious shot from the corner of the penalty area which Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi had to parry away.
Hosts level
However, it was to be the hosts who were to score next. A cross from the right hand side was hung up to the far post with ex West Ham forward Scamacca leaping to head in from close range to make it 1-1.
The edgy frantic nature of the game continued, with Scamacca having another shot blocked. Pedro Neto then saw a dangerous burst into the penalty area snuffed out, Scamacca then struck a free kick into the wall with Robert Sanchez having to parry another effort away with a crowd of players approaching.
The momentum began to shift with the hosts as the game approached the hour mark, Maresca opted to bring on Malo Gusto in place of Enzo Fernandez in the midfield with Alejandro Garnacho coming on for Pedro Neto with Chelsea looking to switch to a more traditional 4-3-3 formation with Gittens moving to the right wing.
Maresca's substitutions initially helped Chelsea shore up out of possession as both teams struggled to break each other down. Garnacho then cut inside and forced a save from Carnesecchi with a right footed shot that was a routine save for the Atalanta goalkeeper.
Atalanta ahead
A lapse in concentration from Chelsea in the 83rd minute was punished accordingly by the hosts as a quick Atalanta free kick resulted in Charles De Ketelaere running into the box before his right footed shot took a deflection of Cucurella's leg and beat the diving Robert Sanchez.
There were late chances for Chelsea as Garnacho cut inside from the left hand side and struck a 20 yard shot which was palmed away by Carnesecchi, after that Reece James then sent a shot from the edge of the box as Chelsea entered four minutes of injury time.
With one of the final kicks of the game Joao Pedro then had a shot from Acheampong's knockdown which was saved however, it was to no avail as the Blues left Bergamo empty handed.
What it means
The Blues sit 11th in the champions league table with half of the teams having games in hand that are due to be played tonight.
With the top 8 teams automatically qualifying for the round of 16 and teams from ninth to 24th going into the play off round , Chelsea will need to gain points in their final two games against Pafos at Stamford Bridge on the 21st January and away to Napoli on the 28th of January if the Blues are to guarantee progression into the knockout stages.
What's next
The Blues are back on home soil in the premier league for the first time in four matches on Saturday as they take on Everton in a 3pm kick off.
Chelsea will then be on the road once more, with a Carabao cup game as the Blues travel to Cardiff City a week from today.
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