It’s back to Champions League action for the Blues, where last time we recorded a delightful 3-0 win over Barcelona. Since then, things have taken a turn for the worse; in fact, we haven’t won since (though the 1-1 draw against Arsenal with just ten players felt like a win).
This is match six of eight in the league phase, and it’s coming down to crunch time. Both Chelsea and Atalanta have 10 points from the first five games (three wins, one draw, one defeat), so we’re both in good position to push
for a top-eight finish and a direct route into the Round of 16. Three points here would be a very important three points in that regard.
Date / Time: Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 20.00 GMT; 3pm EST; 1:30am IST (next day)
Venue: Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia, Bergamo, Italy (Bergamo’s old town is most wonderful and well worth a visit)
Forecast: Cool and calm
Referee: Alejandro Hernández (on pitch); Cesar Soto Grado (VAR)
On TV: TNT Sports 2 (UK); none (USA); Sony TEN 1 (India); SuperSport Premier League (NGA); elsewhere
Streaming: discovery+ (UK); Paramount+, DAZN (USA); Sony LIV (India); DStv Now (NGA)
Atalanta team news: It’s been a bit of a struggle for Atalanta this season, down to 12th in Serie A, after yet another third place finish last year — they’ve never finished higher than third in their history, but they’ve done so four times in the last seven years. Gian Piero Gasperini was in charge for all seven of those seasons (plus two more before then), but he left in the summer and his replacement, Ivan Jurić lasted barely three months. Raffaele Palladino was appointed to replace him last month; he’s won three of his five games in charge — though they suffered a shock 3-1 defeat against previously winless Verona over the weekend.
Gasperini made his name with entertaining, high-energy attacking sides, so it’s a bit unfamiliar to see Atalanta as one of the lowest scoring teams in the league phase, with just six goals to their name thus far. Unlike most of Gasperini’s teams, La Dea do have a great defensive record however, with just five conceded — four of those to one team, PSG, and one to the other four teams.
Former Chelsea loan warrior Mario Pašalić is still here, now in his eighth season (including loan seasons) and with over 300 appearances for Atalanta to his name. Certified club legend at age 30 (!), and among the leading goalscorers this season (though with just three in all competitions). Familiar names Ademola Lookman, Charles De Ketelaere, and Marten de Roon will be some of the other players to watch, not to mention our old pal Davide Zappacosta, still going strong up the wings at age 33.
Lastly, one other name in their squad that caught my eye was Nikola Krstović, a 25-year-old forward, who for a couple years played for my hometown team, and in the second of those seasons, 2022-23, absolutely lit up the top division in Slovakia. He led the league in scoring and almost gave the team a realistic shot at the title (it’s a one-team league, dominated by Slovan Bratislava). He was clearly far too good for the place, so he got a €4.4m move to Lecce, where he found considerably less success. But somehow he still ended up moving to Atalanta over the summer for the relatively hefty sum of €25m. Good on him. (He has two goals in sixteen apperances; less good on him.)
Chelsea team news: Twenty three players have traveled, with four left behind injured — Liam Delap joining usual suspects Levi Colwill, Dário Essugo, and Roméo Lavia — and one left behind to work on his fitness. Cole Palmer started on Saturday, but he was clearly lacking match fitness (not to mention match sharpness), so we decided to spare him the wear and tear of travel.
One bit of good news is that Moisés Caicedo is available to play since he’s only suspended in the Premier League (two served, one match to go). He should be well rested, which is a rare thing.
Our last game in this competition delivered an ultimate high. We’ve come down considerably — winless in three — so hopefully we can find that winning feeling again.
Previously: This is our first ever competitive match against Atalanta.
