Gianluca Scamacca, Ademola Lookman and Charles De Ketelaere lead the Atalanta attack against Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea, who drop both Alejandro Garnacho and Estevao.
It kicks off at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo at 20.00 GMT.
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You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Inter vs. Liverpool on the Liveblog.
NAPLES, ITALY – NOVEMBER 22: Gianluca Scamacca of Atalanta BC celebrates after scoring his side first goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Atalanta BC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on November 22, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
This is a direct head-to-head for position, as both teams have 10 points in the Champions League table, so a victory here could mean securing a spot in the play-offs.
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Atalanta are under their second coach of the season, as Ivan Juric struggled to take over the mantle from Gian Piero Gasperini after nine years, so Raffaele Palladino was appointed last month.
He is missing only Kamaldeen Sulemana through injury, as the good news is that Sead Kolasinac is fit for his first Champions League start since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee towards the end of last season.
De Ketelaere, Lookman and Scamacca are chosen to lead the attack, with Ederson in midfield already attracting interest from clubs including Liverpool, Barcelona, Manchester United and Chelsea.
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A big surprise is youth product Lorenzo Bernasconi on the left flank rather than Davide Zappacosta.
BERGAMO, ITALY – OCTOBER 22: Charles De Ketelaere of Atalanta BC looks o during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Atalanta BC and SK Slavia Praha at Stadio di Bergamo on October 22, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
As for Chelsea, they won the Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup under Maresca, but their Champions League results have been mixed.
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While they lost the opener 3-1 at Bayern Munich, they were able to beat Benfica, Ajax and Barcelona, yet were held to a 2-2 draw by Qarabag.
Injury problems continue to pile up with Cole Palmer, Liam Delap, Levi Colwill and Romeo Lavia left at home.
Raheem Sterling is also not on the UEFA squad list, along with Dario Essugo and Gabriel Slonina.
Chelsea fans adore 18-year-old Brazilian talent Estevao, but both he and Alejandro Garnacho are surprisingly left on the bench.
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Garnacho had been approached by Roma over the summer, but turned down the move, preferring to remain in the Premier League.
COBHAM, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 08: Enzo Maresca, manager of Chelsea FC looks on during a training session at Chelsea Training Ground on December 08, 2025 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Jasper Wax/Getty Images)
Atalanta vs. Chelsea line-ups
Atalanta: Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Bernasconi; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Scamacca
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Chelsea: Sanchez; Badiashile, Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella; James, Caicedo; Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernández, Gittens; Joao Pedro
Ref: Hernandez (ESP)
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Champions League official line-ups: Inter vs. Liverpool
