UCL | Atalanta 2-1 Chelsea: De Ketelaere the comeback king shock for Maresca

BERGAMO, ITALY – DECEMBER 09: Charles De Ketelaere of Atalanta BC during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between Atalanta BC and Chelsea FC at Stadio di Bergamo on December 09, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Charles De Ketelaere scored one and assisted Gianluca Scamacca for the other, as Atalanta fought back to beat Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea 2-1 in the Champions League.

Both teams were on 10 points going into Matchday 6, so it was a head-to-head for position in the table. La Dea were still finding their feet under new coach Raffaele Palladino, with Kamaldeen Sulemana injured, but Sead Kolasinac got his first start since an ACL tear in April. Enzo Maresca surprisingly dropped Estevao and Alejandro Garnacho, with Cole Palmer, Liam Delap, Levi Colwill and Romeo Lavia out of action, plus Raheem Stirling not on the UEFA list.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Ademola Lookman burst into the box and tested Robert Sanchez at the near post, with Charles De Ketelaere’s follow-up blocked from six yards.

Raoul Bellanova sprinted down the right and rolled across, only to go down in pain straight after that cross with a hamstring problem. He was distraught as he hobbled off to make way for ex-Chelsea man Davide Zappacosta.

Josh Acheampong made a decisive block from six yards on Lookman, then Gianluca Scamacca and Marten de Roon failed to turn in the rebound.

Chelsea had the ball in the net on 25 minutes and it was initially disallowed for the Reece James offside position rolling across from a corner for Joao Pedro to flick in at the near post from five yards, but VAR confirmed he was level.

João Pedro has his first Champions League goal 😮‍💨

A lengthy VAR check but the forward slides in to meet Reece James’ cross!@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/jLdnJykTvp

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 9, 2025

James saw one attempt charged down by Berat Djimsiti and the follow-up drilled wide from the edge of the area, with De Ketelaere’s attempt blocked at the other end.

Lookman thought he had scored the equaliser on a Marten de Roon assist, but he was in an offside position.

It’s game on Bergamo!

Former West Ham forward Gianluca Scamacca heads Atalanta level 💥@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/xwUPQfnjcJ

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 9, 2025

Jamie Gittens stung Marco Carnesecchi’s gloves, but Atalanta got their equaliser when De Ketelaere ran down the right and stood up a cross with his weaker right foot for the Scamacca header at the back post.

Suddenly Atalanta were swarming all over Chelsea, Sanchez getting down for a tricky one-handed save on another Scamacca header.

La Dea turned the game around completely with De Ketelaere adding a goal to his assist. Nikola Krstovic took the free kick quickly and De Ketelaere surged down the right, his right-foot finish with a deflection off Malo Gusto surprising Sanchez at the near post.

It’s all turned around in Bergamo!

Charles de Ketelaere drives forward and fires Atalanta ahead against Chelsea 💥@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/pFHspHgPrj

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 9, 2025

The Belgian now has six goals and seven assists in his last 12 Champions League appearances.

De Ketelaere also set up Krstovic to fire over from a tricky angle, but Carnesecchi made a decisive save with the last kick of the game when Acheampong knocked down a cross at the by-line for Joao Pedro’s volley.

Atalanta 2-1 Chelsea

Joao Pedro 25 (C), Scamacca 55 (A), De Ketelaere 83 (A)

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