Chelsea collapse in Bergamo as Maresca's gambling doesn't pay off
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 10.12.25. | 11:54
The Blues now need wins against both Napoli and Pafos to reach the last 16
Chelsea's Champions League hopes took a major hit in Bergamo as Atalanta overturned a halftime deficit to beat the world champions 2-1. Raffaele Paladino outcoached Enzo Maresca, whose latest wave of rotations backfired yet again.
Chelsea led at the break through Joao Pedro's tap-in, their only real chance of the half, despite Atalanta creating more and asking all the questions. Nineteen-year-old Josh Acheampong impressed on his UCL debut, keeping Lookman quiet after an early scare.
Chelsea's 2-1 loss to Atalanta means they're winless in their last five UCL away games 🫥 pic.twitter.com/GmnaeWSvok
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 9, 2025
But the game flipped after Maresca introduced Wesley Fofana at halftime. Atalanta first had a Lookman goal ruled out, then equalised through Scamacca, who lost Fofana far too easily at the back post. With Chelsea sitting deeper, Charles De Ketelaere struck the winner - a low drive through Cucurella's legs that left Carnesecchi's counterpart helpless.
The Blues now need wins against both Napoli and Pafos to reach the last 16.
Meanwhile, Tottenham delivered one of their cleanest displays of the season, brushing aside Slavia Prague 3-0. Zima's early own goal set the tone, Kudus doubled the lead from the spot, and Xavi Simons added another penalty. Only a superb Stanek between the sticks prevented an even heavier defeat.
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Matchday 6
Tuesday
Kairat Almaty - Olympiacos 0-1 (0-0)
/Martins 73/
Bayern Munich - Sporting Lisbon 3-1 (0-0)
/Gnabry 65, Karl 69, Tah 77 - Kimmich 54 (og)/
Atalanta - Chelsea 2-1 (0-1)
/Scamacca 55, De Ketelaere 83 - Pedro 25/
Barcelona - Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 (0-1)
/Knauff 21, Kounde 50, 53/
Inter Milan - Liverpool 0-1 (0-0)
/Szoboszlai 88 pen/
Monaco - Galatasaray 1-0 (0-0)
/Balogun 68/
PSV Eindhoven - Atletico Madrid 2-3 (1-1)
/Til 10, Pepi 85 - Alvarez 37, Hancko 52, Sorloth 56/
St. Gilloise - Olympique Marseille 2-3 (1-2)
/Khalaili 5, 71 - Paixao 15, Greenwood 41, 58/
Tottenham - Slavia Prague 3-0 (1-0)
/Zima 26 og, Kudus 50 pen, Simons 79 pen/
Wednesday
20.45: (2.00) Qarabag (3.60) Ajax (4.00)
20.45: (1.45) Villarreal (4.50) Copenhagen (7.00)
23.00: (5.80) Athletic Bilbao (3.80) PSG (1.62)
23.00: (2.40) Benfica (3.40) Napoli (3.20)
23.00: (10.0) Club Brugge (5.20) Arsenal (1.37)
23.00: (1.28) Borussia Dortmund (6.00) Bodo/Glimt (9.50)
23.00: (1.18) Juventus (7.25) Pafos (15.0)
23.00: (3.10) Bayer Leverkusen (3.50) Newcastle (2.40)
23.00: (2.55) Real Madrid (3.85) Manchester City (2.65)
***odds are subject to change***
