Charles De Ketelaere inspired Atalanta’s stirring comeback to beat Chelsea 2–1 in the Champions League on Tuesday, extending the Blues’ winless run to four matches.
João Pedro gave Chelsea a first-half lead in Bergamo with his maiden Champions League goal, but Enzo Maresca’s side faded badly after the break. Former West Ham forward Gianluca Scamacca levelled before De Ketelaere, who had supplied the equaliser capped a superb performance with the late winner.
Chelsea never found an answer for the Belgian forward, who now has six goals and seven assists in his last 12 Champions League appearances.
Since their impressive 3–0 win over Barcelona on November 25, Chelsea have failed to win in four straight games across all competitions. Sitting 11th with 10 points from six league-phase matches, their push for a top-eight finish, and automatic qualification for the last 16 hangs in the balance. Their final two fixtures come in January, at home to Pafos and away to Napoli.
Atalanta, now third, have already claimed notable wins over Club Brugge, Marseille, Eintracht Frankfurt and Chelsea as they chase progression.
Maresca made five changes from Saturday’s 0–0 draw at Bournemouth, resting Cole Palmer after his return from a two-month layoff. There was also no place for breakout teenager Estevão, who has three Champions League goals this season and shone against Barcelona.
Lethargic Chelsea
Chelsea were nearly punished inside five minutes when Ademola Lookman darted into the box, his cross deflecting off Robert Sánchez before being scrambled clear. The visitors continued to labour, with Enzo Fernández blazing over and Lookman again threatening until a superb last-ditch block from Josh Acheampong denied him.
Acheampong’s intervention proved crucial as Chelsea took the lead in the 25th minute. João Pedro calmly swept in Reece James’s low cross from close range, the goal given after a VAR review overturned an offside flag. It was just the Brazilian’s third goal in his last 16 outings.
James then went close to doubling the lead with a rasping strike early in the second half, a miss that quickly proved costly. In the 55th minute, De Ketelaere delivered a teasing cross to the back post, where Scamacca ghosted in to head home.
Scamacca almost struck again with a glancing header that Sánchez clawed away, prompting Maresca to introduce Alejandro Garnacho, who drew an immediate save from Marco Carnesecchi.
But Chelsea’s defence continued to wobble, and De Ketelaere delivered the decisive blow in the 83rd minute, driving forward unchallenged before unleashing a shot that deflected off Marc Cucurella and nestled into the net.
