BATTLE SCA

Blues fall out of top eight after ex-Hammer blow

- BOBBY VINCENT

CHELSEA'S wait for a win in December goes on with the Blues throwing away a lead last night.

Defeat for Chelsea in the Champions League saw them drop out of the top eight of the league phase table, with the west Londoners remaining on 10 points from six games.

Joao Pedro gave the Blues the lead in the 25th minute with a smart finish after being picked out by Reece James's cross.

Atalanta found the equaliser 10 minutes after the interval, with Charles De Ketelaere’s delivery met by the head of Gianluca Scamacca.

De Ketelaere then gave the Italian side the lead late on, with his deflected shot beating Robert Sanchez, who could not keep the ball out despite getting a hand on it.

Blues boss Enzo Maresca made wholesale changes once again, with Josh Acheampong, Benoit Badiashile, Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens coming into the side.