After recording a resounding 3-0 victory over Barcelona in their last Champions League outing, the Blues will be looking to continue their impressive form in Europe when they face Italian side Atalanta in round six of the competition.
Atalanta vs Chelsea is one of nine UEFA Champions League fixtures being played on Tuesday, November 9. As the group stages reach their climax, both teams will be desperate to secure positive results that strengthen their bid for qualification.
Atalanta will aim to capitalise on their home advantage and high-intensity style. At the same time, Chelsea will look to kick-start a run of games that will place them above their rivals in the race for qualification and restore confidence heading into the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League fixtures.
Atalanta vs Chelsea Preview
The clash set for the Stadio di Bergamo, Atalanta vs Chelsea, will mark the first-ever meeting between the two sides, as they have never faced each other in any competitive fixture. With both teams eager to make a statement, this historic encounter adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already decisive match.
With both teams having played five games, with Chelsea scoring 12 and conceding six, while Atalanta has scored six and conceded five, the match is pointing towards a tightly contested affair, where both clubs would carve out opportunities to score.
Chelsea’s rotation of players this season has been criticised by many as the continuous shuffling of the squad can not only reduce intensity when players who haven’t played much are suddenly brought into the lineup, but it also disrupts rhythm, weakens on-field chemistry, and makes it harder for the team to build consistent momentum in crucial UEFA Champions League fixtures.
But against Atalanta, Maresca is expected to field his strongest eleven to secure all three points and not risk dropping valuable ground in a group where slip-ups would be punished.
Key Players
Ademola Lookman
Yet to rediscover the form that earned him the 2024 African Best Player award, Nigerian international Ademola Lookman remains Atalanta’s primary danger man. Since leaving Leicester City in 2021, his tally of 39 goals across three seasons has seen him named Player of the Season for two consecutive years, from 2022 to 2024.
As Atalanta prepare to take on Chelsea, much of their attacking responsibility will again rest on his shoulders. His ability to exploit spaces, carry the ball with power, and convert half-chances into goals makes him the focal point of Ivan Juric’s offensive setup.
If Atalanta are to get anything from this encounter, he will almost certainly need to play a decisive role – either through a moment of individual brilliance or by drawing defenders out of position to create opportunities for others.
Moises Caicedo
Moises Caicedo, who is serving a three-match ban in the EPL after a crunching tackle on Arsenal’s Mikel Merino, will be available to face Atalanta.
He has been a key figure in Enzo Maresca’s setup, operating in front of the defence and acting as a vital link between the backline and attack. This season, he has added goals to his résumé, showing an ability to arrive late in the box and contribute decisively in the final third.
The midfield partnership of Caicedo and Enzo Fernández provides a perfect balance for Maresca’s side. While Caicedo – who has been compared to Arsenal’s Declan Rice – offers defensive solidity, ball recovery, and energy, Fernandez brings creativity, vision, and forward thrust, making them a complementary duo capable of controlling games and dictating the tempo from midfield, which is crucial for any team with ambitions of pushing for the Premier League title or securing Champions League qualification.
His return for the Atalanta vs Chelsea clash would be greatly welcomed, as the midfield has noticeably lacked that extra layer of defensive awareness in his absence.
Cole Palmer Returns: A Welcomed Boost for Chelsea
Having spent roughly six weeks sidelined with a groin injury, Palmer finally made his return to the pitch against Leeds United.
The 23-year-old, who has scored only one goal this campaign, will be looking to regain full fitness and unleash the attacking threat he is capable of, creating chances, scoring goals, and making decisive impacts for Chelsea in the coming UEFA Champions League fixtures.
Palmer, together with Estevao, is a dream for any coach, and Enzo Maresca has reiterated how good Chelsea are with Palmer in the squad. He said;
“Having Cole back is good news and everyone is happy. The fans are happy, his team-mates are happy, and the most important thing is that Cole is happy [to be back] because in the end, players want to play games and make the training sessions every day.
“He can help us a lot. He is probably our best player and we are happy he is back. Now we have to give him time to be 100 per cent fit. He has done fantastic in the past and no doubt he is going to do very good things for this club in the future.’
Another player expected to feature in the Atalanta vs Chelsea clash is captain Reece James, who was rested in their previous match as Maresca looks to carefully manage his minutes and avoid any new injuries.
Head to Head
There is no officially recorded Atalanta vs Chelsea match, meaning this upcoming fixture will mark the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
Atalanta vs Chelsea Betting Tips and Prediction
Defensively, both sides have shown a tendency to concede due to lapses in concentration. Although Atalanta’s goalscoring record in the UCL this season has been poor (6), they will still fancy their chances of finding the net against Chelsea, especially with the boost of home advantage.
Atalanta vs Chelsea betting tips: Both teams to score | Chelsea to win | Over 3.5 goals.
Atalanta vs Chelsea score prediction: 1 – 4
Conclusion
The Atalanta vs Chelsea clash promises to be a difficult game for both sides, but the odds still lean in Chelsea’s favour to take all three points. Having won seven of their last eight matches, the Blues come into this clash with strong momentum and a growing sense of confidence.
The Blues will be looking to avoid a repeat of their Leeds United game where they were outplayed and eventually lost the game 3-1. If they maintain their intensity earlier on and capitalise on their chances, they should be well-positioned to edge this contest.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / NurPhoto
Recording Date: 25.11.2025
