Atalanta continued their fine start under new manager Raffaele Palladino by claiming a comeback 2-1 victory over Chelsea in the Champions League tonight.
Both sides started the game on ten points from five matches, although Chelsea were higher in the standings due to their superior goal difference.
Atalanta started the game brightly and came close to taking the lead in the sixth through Ademola Lookman, who nearly scored from a tight angle.
Lookman was denied for a second time after 19 minutes by an excellent block from Josh Acheampong.
Chelsea took the lead five minutes shy of the half-hour mark as Joao Pedro turned home Reece James’ low delivery into the box.
In stark contrast to the opening 45 minutes, Chelsea started the second period on the front foot as they looked to double their lead.
Enzo Maresca’s side should have edged further ahead in the early exchanges of the half, but James was unable to keep his effort on target from inside the area.
Atalanta had the ball in the back of the net through Lookman shortly afterwards, only to be denied by a raised flag.
The Serie A outfit were not going to be denied an equaliser in the 55th minute as Gianluca Scamacca headed home Charles De Ketelaere’s delivery.
Atalanta were in the ascendancy and looked set to continue their second-half exploits with all seven of their Champions League goals coming after the interval.
Chelsea needed Robert Sanchez to be at his best to keep out Scamacca’s flick header just past the hour mark.
Substitute Alejandro Garnacho fired straight at Marco Carnesecchi shortly after his introduction as Chelsea looked to wrestle back some control.
Neither team were settling for a point as the game headed into its final 10 minutes, with both still believing all three were possible.
De Ketelaere bagged the winner for Atalanta, leaving Chelsea in danger of losing a Champions League game in which they led at half-time for the first time since 2013.
Garnacho drew another save out of Carnesecchi in the penultimate minute of normal time, after which James fired wide in the first of four stoppage-time minutes.
Pedro had the game’s final chance with virtually the last kick, but Carnesecchi was up to the task once again to see his side over the line.
La Dea have now picked up 13 points from a possible 18 to put themselves in pole position for a place in the knockout phase.
Chelsea have now gone four games without a win since their 3-0 triumph over Barcelona and desperately need to steady the ship.
