In a gripping night at the New Balance Arena, Atalanta overturned an early deficit to beat Chelsea 2–1 with a last-gasp strike from Charles De Ketelaere delivering a blow to Chelsea’s top-eight hopes in the Champions League.

Chelsea had appeared in control after Joao Pedro broke the deadlock in the 25th minute, converting a cross from Reece James initially ruled out for offside before a VAR review sided with the Blues.

But after the break, the tide turned. Gianluca Scamacca nodded home the equaliser in the 55th minute, rising at the back post to meet a perfect cross from De Ketelaere.

With confidence rising for the home side, De Ketelaere tore into Chelsea’s defense late on powering in a shot seven minutes from time that deflected off a defender and left goalkeeper Robert Sánchez helpless. The strike vaulted Atalanta to third in the group standings, while Chelsea were left to rue defensive lapses and a rare thrown-away half-time advantage.

The result doesn’t just hand Atalanta a massive morale boost it places Chelsea under real pressure heading into the closing stages of the group phase. Maresca’s men will now have to rediscover consistency if they hope to avoid a playoff to reach the last 16.