For a club that proudly wears the tag of a two-time Champions League winner, Chelsea's recent record on the road in Europe is nothing short of embarrassing.
The 2-1 defeat to Atalanta—a game where the Blues took the lead through João Pedro—officially extended their winless streak in UEFA Champions League away games to five matches. This concerning statistic underlines a deeper issue within Enzo Maresca's squad: a failure to manage high-pressure European fixtures away from the comfort of Stamford Bridge.
The Alarming Five-Game Streak
Chelsea’s current run of away results in the Champions League spans across two seasons and includes a damaging mix of poor results against elite opposition and unacceptable dropped points against weaker teams:
Date,Opponent,Result,Competition Stage
Dec 2025,Atalanta,L 1-2,League Phase
Nov 2025,Qarabağ,D 2-2,League Phase
Sep 2025,Bayern Munich,L 1-3,League Phase
Apr 2023,Real Madrid,L 0-2,Quarter-finals
Feb 2023,Borussia Dortmund,L 0-1,Round of 16
The run includes three losses and two draws. Crucially, the recent draws against Qarabağ and the collapse in Bergamo (after leading 1-0)are the most worrying signs of a team lacking the killer instinct and game management required at the elite level.
The Maresca Problem: Poor Game Management
While the run started under previous management, the latest results point to critical failures under Enzo Maresca:
Losing Control: After the Atalanta loss, Maresca admitted his team "lost a bit of control" after conceding the equaliser.
This vulnerability to momentum swings is a recurring theme that has cost them vital points, especially when defending a lead.
Tactical Naivety: Maresca has been criticized for poor in-game substitutions and an unwillingness to deviate from his rigid system, even when opponents—like Atalanta in the second half—figure them out and apply overwhelming pressure.
The December Slump: For the second year running, Chelsea's form has crashed during the congested December period, suggesting a failure to manage the mental and physical demands of the high-pressure fixture list.
The Home Form Lifeline
What has saved Chelsea from total embarrassment in Europe is their superb home form. The Blues have been flawless at Stamford Bridge this season, securing massive wins against Barcelona (3-0) and Ajax (5-1).
This stark contrast between home dominance and away fragility is unsustainable. To truly challenge for the Champions League, Chelsea must regain the steel and tactical maturity that saw them grind out results on the road under previous regimes.
With a crucial game against Napoli looming, Maresca must quickly find a way to end this away-day nightmare, or risk throwing away their hard-earned top-eight position and, potentially, his job.
What is the single biggest reason for Chelsea’s terrible away form in the Champions League?