Chelsea’s long running Italian nightmare was back with a vengeance on Tuesday night, as Atalanta overturned a first half deficit to hand Enzo Maresca’s side a damaging 2-1 defeat in Bergamo and pile fresh pressure on their fading Champions League campaign.
João Pedro had given the Blues a rare moment of joy on Italian soil with a neat finish midway through the first half, but the evening unravelled after the break. Gianluca Scamacca levelled with a sharp header before Charles De Ketelaere who tormented Chelsea all night slammed in a late winner to complete the comeback.
It was another chapter in a story Chelsea fans are frankly sick of reading. Two wins in 15 trips to Italy has now become two in 16. Whatever curse follows them across the border, it clearly hasn’t been lifted.
Chelsea, who hammered Barcelona 3-0 just a few weeks ago, has now gone four games without a win in all competitions. Their form looks as unsteady as their defending in the final minutes here, and Maresca’s hopes of finishing in the top eight of the league phase, needed for automatic last 16 qualification is wobbling badly. They sit on 10 points from six games, which is nowhere near comfortable.
Maresca shuffled his pack from the weekend draw at Bournemouth, resting Cole Palmer and leaving teenage sensation Estevão out entirely, despite the youngster’s sparkling European form. The changes didn’t exactly inject life into a side that looked flat for long stretches.
Atalanta, sharper and hungrier, nearly caught Chelsea cold inside five minutes when Ademola Lookman’s cross ricocheted off Robert Sánchez and almost crept in. Chelsea carved out little in response until João Pedro swept in Reece James’ low cross originally flagged offside before VAR rescued it.
James should’ve buried a second shortly after the interval. Instead he dragged it wide, and Chelsea paid for it almost instantly. De Ketelaere floated a teasing ball to the back post, Chelsea’s defence was statuesque, and Scamacca nodded in. Simple. Too simple.
With Chelsea creaking, Atalanta sniffed blood. Scamacca nearly bagged another before Garnacho arrived from the bench to briefly lift Blues spirits with a sharp effort saved.
But the killer blow came seven minutes from time. De Ketelaere, who has now chalked up six goals and seven assists in his last 12 Champions League outings, was allowed to drift into space 20 yards out. No one closed him, no one even looked sure who should. His strike took a nick off Marc Cucurella and flew past Sánchez. Bergamo erupted; Chelsea slumped.
The defeat leaves Chelsea’s future in Europe on a knife edge. Their final two fixtures at home to Pafos before a daunting trip to Napoli, suddenly feel far more tense than they should. And the Italian curse? It’s not just alive. It’s thriving.
If Maresca can’t shake it off soon, Chelsea’s Champions League journey might be over before it ever truly got going.
