Atalanta 2–1 Chelsea: De Ketelaere Shines as Blues Collapse Late in Champions League Defeat

Chelsea’s Champions League evening in Bergamo ended in disappointment as Atalanta came from behind to win 2–1, overturning João Pedro’s first-half opener with a dominant second-half display. The result extends Chelsea’s poor away form in Europe, following a draw at Qarabag and defeat at Bayern, and raises further concerns over their control and resilience on the road.

Atalanta lined up under Raffaele Palladino in a 3-4-2-1 shape, with Carnesecchi in goal, a back three of Kossounou, Djimsiti and Kolašinac, Bellanova and Bernasconi operating as wing-backs, and a central midfield pairing of captain De Roon alongside Éderson. Charles De Ketelaere and Ademola Lookman supported Gianluca Scamacca up front, giving Atalanta a fluid and dangerous attacking trio. Chelsea, coached by Enzo Maresca, set up in a 4-2-3-1 with Sánchez in goal and a defensive line of James, Chalobah, Acheampong and Cucurella. Caicedo partnered Enzo Fernández in midfield, while Pedro Neto and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens played either side of João Pedro, who led the line.

Atalanta started the brighter of the two sides. Inside five minutes, Lookman squared across the face of goal for Charles De Ketelaere, who was just inches away from converting. Chelsea escaped, but the early warning signs were clear. The hosts’ intensity forced Chelsea into deep positions, and when Bellanova went down injured 14 minutes in, the introduction of former Chelsea full-back Davide Zappacosta only strengthened Atalanta’s right flank.

Zappacosta made an almost immediate impact. Four minutes after coming on, he drove a dangerous ball across the Chelsea penalty area, and Lookman’s resulting strike was blocked sharply by young defender Joshua Acheampong, who was alert to the danger throughout the first half.

Chelsea, however, struck first. After 24 minutes, Reece James delivered a perfect cross from the right, which João Pedro turned home. The flag initially went up for offside, but VAR intervened and the goal stood João Pedro’s first Champions League goal giving Chelsea a 1–0 lead against the flow of play. Chalobah picked up a yellow moments later, but Chelsea managed their defensive line well, stepping up intelligently and catching Atalanta offside several times to protect their advantage.

The visitors went into the break ahead, though far from comfortable.

Chalobah, booked and struggling, did not return for the second half, replaced by Wesley Fofana. Chelsea nearly doubled their lead on 51 minutes when James dragged a good chance wide, before Atalanta thought they had equalised moments later Lookman tucking home from close range only for the forward to be ruled offside once again, with Chelsea’s line holding firm.

Atalanta finally broke through. De Ketelaere, increasingly influential, lofted an inviting ball from the right, and Gianluca Scamacca rose unmarked to head home the equaliser. It was a poor defensive moment for Fofana and Acheampong, both caught flat-footed as Atalanta found the goal their pressure deserved.

The momentum shifted fully towards the hosts. De Ketelaere continued to torment Chelsea’s back line, and Pedro Neto’s lightning counterattack, which created a blocked chance for João Pedro, was one of the few moments Chelsea relieved the pressure. Sánchez then bailed his team out with a sharp save from a flicked effort on 61 minutes as Atalanta pushed for a second.

In response, Chelsea made changes, with Enzo and Neto replaced by Garnacho and Gusto on 65 minutes. Atalanta rotated too: Kolašinac came off for Ahanor, before Scamacca was substituted for Krstović. Fofana himself had to be withdrawn 15 minutes from time due to being caught by studs, replaced by Tosin as Chelsea’s defensive structure was forced to reorganise once again.

The decisive moment arrived in the 82nd minute. Atalanta took a quick free-kick, and De Ketelaere drove forward, beating Cucurella before striking low and powerfully toward the near post.

Sánchez got a hand to it but couldn’t keep it out. It was the Belgian’s second Champions League goal of the season, having already assisted Scamacca’s equaliser, and a deserved reward for his superb performance. Atalanta, the dominant side since the restart, finally had the lead.

Chelsea attempted to rally late on, but to little effect. Atalanta introduced Pašalić, another former Chelsea name, and Musah in the 86th minute, while Chelsea now playing with an unorthodox midfield pairing of James and Gusto looked disjointed. Garnacho forced Carnesecchi into a save on 89 minutes, and James went close shortly after, dragging a low effort just wide of the far corner. But the equaliser never came.

Chelsea leave Bergamo with another away setback, their European form away from Stamford Bridge now a serious concern. Atalanta, meanwhile, earned their victory through intensity, intelligence and the outstanding influence of De Ketelaere, the standout performer who shaped the match at both ends.