Chelsea and Atalanta face-off in the UEFA Champions League Match-Day 6 at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo, Italy, Softfootball reports.
The Blues and La Dea are currently both on 10 points but the London are ahead on the table due to goals difference. Chelsea beat Barcelona 3-0 in their last Champions League match, a similar result Atalanta share as they hammered Frankfurt by the same score line.
Chelsea via their official X handle, showed readiness for the match. They posted:
Next up, #UCL MD6 as we take on Atalanta. 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/qTsRUwvpHx
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 7, 2025Head-to-Head
Chelsea will be meeting Atalanta for the first time in any European competition. Last weekend, Chelsea drew goalless against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium while Atalanta lost away 3-1 to Hellas Verona and both teams would want to get a win on board.
Star Player
For the home team, Ademola Lookman is the star man for the side. Since the appointment of new manager Raffaele Palladino, he has made it clear that he will build his team around the Nigerian despite all the troubles over the last couple of months. This believe paid off as Lookman scored and assisted in Palladino’s first Champions League match against Frankfurt.
Cole Palmer will be key for Chelsea from midfield. The England midfielder returned from a lengthy injury and made his first start for the Chelsea as they played out a goalless draw against Bournemouth at the weekend. He also saw a cameo against Leeds United and his match fitness has improved going into the game against Atalanta.
Team News
Kamaldeen Sulemana (muscle) and Mitchel Bakker (ACL) are unavailable this week for Atalanta. Gianluca Scamacca may start ahead of Nikola Krstovic up front.
Ex-Chelsea defender Davide Zappacosta, who reached 200 appearances for Atalanta at the weekend may miss out on a reunion with his former employers as Nicola Zalewski is an alternative left-sided option.
Zappacosta was celebrated by Atalanta via their official X handle after reaching 200 matches for the club. They posted:
200 volte in nerazzurro 🖤💙
200 times wearing the Nerazzurri colours 🖤💙#GoAtalantaGo pic.twitter.com/fSugKQhdMH
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) December 7, 2025For Chelsea, Ecuadorian midfielder Moises Caicedo is available in the Champions League but still serving suspension in the domestic scene. This means Captain, Reece James will return to right back and Gusto benched.
Liam Delap is out after a potentially serious shoulder injury he picked up on Saturday and he joins Romeo Lavia (thigh), Levi Colwill (knee), Dario Essugo (thigh) and Mykhaylo Mudryk (doping suspension) on the injury list for Chelsea.
Joao Pedro is likely to start upfront alongside Cole Palmer with Andre Santos returning to the bench after starting against Bournemouth.
Atalanta probable XI
Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Hien, Djimsiti; Bellanova, Ederson, Pasalic, Zalewski; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Scamacca
Chelsea probable XI
Sanchez; Recee, Acheampong, Chalobah, Hato; Caicedo, Palmer; Estevao, Fernandez, Neto; Pedro
Softfootball prediction
Both teams are very attack minded and goals are expected in this match. Chelsea are more experienced and winning the FIFA Club World Cup helps the Blues to manage the pressure better. Atalanta 1-2 Chelsea.
