Champions League 2025-26: Atalanta beat Chelsea 2-1; AS Monaco gets the upper hand against Galatasaray

Atalanta sealed an important comeback victory in the Champions League, beating Chelsea 2-1 at home on Tuesday with goals from Gianluca Scamacca and Charles De Ketelaere.

The victory puts the Bergamo team at the top of the Champions League rankings, taking a big step towards direct qualification for the round of 16 with thirteen points, while Chelsea sit in eleventh place in the knockout phase of the play-offs.

Joao Pedro broke the deadlock for Chelsea after 25 minutes by pouncing on a quickly taken corner, sending Atalanta to sleep. He scored from an extremely low cross from Reece James and after a brief VAR check the referee confirmed that the England international had timed his run perfectly; the goal stood.

Chelsea remained in control until the break, but Atalanta returned with much more intent after the break and soon thought they were level when Ademola Lookman tapped in a cross. However, Lookman had clearly strayed offside and the goal was disallowed with little protest.

The momentum had clearly shifted to the hosts and in the 55th minute De Ketelaere made his way around the side of the penalty area and lifted a clever ball into the middle, where Scamacca broke free from his marker and sent a header into the net for the equalizer.

Atalanta had completely taken over the lead, while Chelsea struggled to cope with the Italian team’s fast flanking play. Seven minutes before stoppage time, De Ketelaere burst into the penalty area and fired a low effort that goalkeeper Robert Sanchez could only parry into the roof of the net, completing the host team’s comeback.

Chelsea tried hard to salvage a point in the closing stages, creating a number of late chances, but the margins were not on the London club’s side as efforts were saved or missed the target.

Galatasaray loses 0-1 to AS Monaco

Folarin Balogun’s lone goal gave AS Monaco a 1-0 win over Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday, extending the French side’s unbeaten run in the competition to five games.

Balogun broke the deadlock in the 68th minute from a corner and deceived substitute Galatasaray goalkeeper Gunay Guvenc, who had come on seconds earlier as a replacement for the injured Ugurcan Cakir.

Cakir had saved Denis Zakaria’s penalty in the 50th minute, following a VAR review for a foul by Davinson Sanchez on Takumi Minamino. He also saved shots from Maghnes Akliouche and Minamino.

Balogun had squandered two promising chances for his winner, missing the target twice within three minutes just after the hour mark.

Galatasaray had a better start, but Ilkay Gundogan’s shot from close range went well over the crossbar in the 13th minute, while Baris Alper Yilmaz hit the post six minutes later.

Both sides are on nine points, with Monaco facing Real Madrid and Galatasaray hosting Atletico Madrid next month.

Published on December 10, 2025