Hopes of Premier League side, Chelsea, to finish in the top eight of the Uefa Champions League 2025/26 League Phase suffered a blow after Serie A side, Atalanta, struggled from the back to win 2-1 on Tuesday 9 December, 2025 at Gewiss Stadium.
If not for an amazing block from Josh Acheampong to deny Nigerian forward, Ademola Lookman, on his first Champions League start, Atalanta, who kicked off brilliantly, would have gone ahead.
This campaign, Atalanta have only suffered one loss at home, while Chelsea are yet to clinch a victory away in Europe, having now lost twice and drawn once; the Blues are now winless in their last four (4) games in all competitions.
The visitors made the breakthrough in the 25th minute when Reece James provided for Joao Pedro; the hosts levelled when De Ketelaere sent in a beautiful cross for former West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca to head home in the 55th minute.
Atalanta ensured they maintained their pressure and always appeared more likely to score another, and in the 83rd minute, in-form De Ketelaere scored the winner as his shot deflected off Marc Cucurella.
Enzo Maresca’s side had late chances from Alejandro Garnacho, James and Joao Pedro, and with this result, the English side drop out of the top eight while Atalanta climb up to third on the Champions League table.
Result
Uefa Champions League 2025/26 (League Phase) – Tuesday 9 December, 2025 |
| Kairat Almaty 0-1 Olympiacos |
| Bayern Munich 3-1 Sporting CP |
| AS Monaco 1-0 Galatasaray |
| Atalanta 2-1 Chelsea |
| Barcelona 2-1 Eintracht Frankfurt |
| Inter 0-1 Liverpool |
| PSV Eindhoven 2-3 Atletico Madrid |
| Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Slavia Prague |
| Union St. Gilloise 2-3 Marseille |
Photo: Ademola Lookman and teammate celebrate Atalanta 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Gewiss | AFP via Getty Images
