JUMP TO:
Suddenly struggling for form, Chelsea look to once again lean on their excellent European performances as they ready for a tricky trip to Italy to meet Atalanta on Tuesday in Champions League play.
The Blues emphatically defeated Barcelona 3-0 in their most recent league phase match, but since then have failed to win three matches in succession. The draw with Premier League leaders Arsenal felt like a positive result, but defeat to Leeds United and a draw with Bournemouth since then have created more doubt amongst Chelsea supporters.
Red-button widget_catalog_id="dafa_in_8" link="https://bit.ly/3FTWPV2" logo_name="DAFABET" game_title="BEST FOOTBALL ODDS AND OFFERS" button_text="CLICK TO BET"]
Despite the return of Cole Palmer to the squad, the attack has felt stifled a bit, as the England star gets his feet back under him following a number of weeks on the sidelines.
AllSportsPeople runs through the latest team news and injury updates which Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca must sort through as the match draws nearer.
MORE: How Chelsea beat a Tottenham side so bad they were booed off the pitch
Chelsea lineup vs. Atalanta: Projected starting XI
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Jorgensen (GK)
Acheampong, Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella
James, Caicedo
Neto, Fernandez, Gittens
Joao Pedro
Chelsea team news
With Chelsea sitting amongst the upper echelon of the Champions League standings, Enzo Maresca has rotated with five changes.
Josh Acheampong, Jamie Gittens, Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Benoit Badiashile all start.
Liam Delap will miss at least a month with a shoulder injury suffered against Bournemouth.
MORE: Breaking down the prize money on offer in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League
Chelsea injury list
Below is the latest injury picture for Chelsea, including estimated return dates for those who are sidelined.
Romeo Lavia
- Injury: Thigh muscle injury
- Expected return date: December 2025
Lavia has a muscle issue that saw him remain on the sidelines until well after the November international break. Maresca hopes the injury is not serious, but a return in December at the earliest is the optimistic view.
Liam Delap
- Injury: Shoulder injury
- Expected return date: January 2026
After missing time to begin the Premier League season at his new club, Liam Delap faces even more time on the sidelines after exiting the match against Bournemouth on December 6 with a shoulder injury.
More tests are needed to know exactly how long he will be out for, but the former Ipswich Town striker is expected to be absent for a number of weeks if not months. Enzo Maresca said after the match that "it looks quite bad."
Reports shortly after claimed that he would not need surgery and could return in approximately four weeks. He'll likely be back sometime after the calendar turns to 2026.
Dario Essugo
- Injury: Thigh injury
- Expected return date: Late December 2025
Essugo arrived at Chelsea carrying a thigh injury following his loan return to Sporting CP from Las Palmas.
While there has been little confirmed reporting on his return, there has been recent speculation that he might be out until early 2026.
Levi Colwill
- Injury: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear
- Expected return date: June 2026
Colwill suffered an ACL tear in preseason and will miss the full campaign. The England international is still in the early stages of his rehabilitation.
Mykhailo Mudryk
- Suspension: Doping
- Expected return date: Unknown
Ukraine international Mudryk has not been available for selection since December 2024 after failing a doping test.
Atalanta vs. Chelsea match details
- Date: Tuesday, December 9, 2025
- Kickoff time: 9 p.m. Local/ 1:30 a.m. IST (Dec. 10)
- Location: New Balance Arena (Bergamo, Italy)
- Competition: Champions League league phase, Round 6
- Referee: Alejandro Hernandez (ESP)
- VAR: Cesar Soto Grado (ESP)