Chelsea were looking for a top-eight finish in the European competition. Their hopes suffered a big blow when they settled for a disappointing 1-1 home draw against Atalanta. The Blues are in 11th place. In order to remain competitive for the knockout stages, they need two wins minimum and 16 points total from their remaining matches.
The match, held at Atalanta’s home ground, was critical for Chelsea, who made five changes from their recent draw against Bournemouth. Of all the changes, none were more significant than the reintroduction of Moises Caicedo into the starting XI after he sat a domestic ban. Chelsea started positively but saw their late-game absences come back to haunt them. Alejandro Garnacho, Reece James and Joao Pedro all missed big chances.
Early Dominance
Chelsea scored first in the match, but Joao Pedro not only leveled the score line, but put on a show that left fans in awe. The would-be goal would have come from a fizzing cross driven in by Reece James, but it was ruled out for offside. This offside ruling was a harbinger of the mismatch that would characterize Chelsea’s early mastery.
“First half we were winning, we were good controlling the game. Probably the two goals we conceded in a short time, two easy goals that we can both avoid.” – Enzo Maresca
Afterwards, Chelsea’s head coach Enzo Maresca lamented his side’s failure to take their chances. He specifically emphasized key defensive mistakes that allowed Atalanta to get back into the game. The Red and White held a number of chances to double their advantage to 2-0. Reece James looked dangerous down the right side, constantly creating danger and forcing tremendous pressure on the opponent.
Atalanta Strikes Back
When La Dea struck back through an inch-perfect Scamacca header, the game took a clear turn towards Atalanta. He brilliantly finished off a stunning cross from Charles De Ketelaere. The goal changed the overall momentum of the match, going in favor of the home side, which ultimately left Chelsea chasing to get back on top.
Through a host of dangerous late opportunities, most notably from Garnacho and Joao Pedro, Chelsea was unable to find an equalizer. Those missed opportunities became key as they continued to sink in the standings. Currently they find themselves only two points away from clinching an automatic round-of-16 berth.
Looking Ahead
With their European hopes dangling by a thread, the next fixtures for Chelsea could prove to be make-or-break. After facing Pafos at home on January 21, they will visit Napoli on January 28.
Maresca opened by admitting to the difficulty of the task at hand. He mentioned how many players on his roster have had to “shoulder the burden” during games lately. He stated, “Tonight, the XI we had inside the pitch, eight or nine players played against Tottenham, Barcelona, Wolves, Arsenal.” This really underscores the depth, fatigue, and pressure on his elite squad as they continue through a gauntlet of matchups.
So as Chelsea look to build upon their recovery up the table, their record on the road in general would worry most. They have failed to win in all three of their European away ties this season, losing two and drawing one. On the other hand, Atalanta has been tough to beat at home, losing just once this campaign.
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