Barcelona and Atalanta played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at Camp Nou on Wednesday night.
The result saw Atalanta miss out on an automatic place in the Champions League last 16.
Barcelona had already secured their spot in the knockout rounds before this match.
Yamal and Araujo Shine for Barcelona
Barcelona started with confidence despite making several changes to their lineup. They controlled possession in the first half but struggled to break through Atalanta’s solid defense.
The first half ended goalless, with both sides failing to take their chances. Two minutes after the break, young sensation Lamine Yamal opened the scoring for Barcelona.
He reacted quickly to a loose ball in the box and fired past the Atalanta goalkeeper. The 16-year-old continues to impress with his talent and composure in front of goal.
Atalanta responded strongly in the 67th minute through Ederson. The Brazilian midfielder unleashed a stunning shot from the edge of the area. His strike sailed past Marc-André ter Stegen and into the left corner.
Atalanta, missing top striker Ademola Lookman due to injury, showed great fight. Ronald Araujo restored Barcelona’s lead five minutes later.
The Uruguayan defender rose highest to head in a corner, making it 2-1. Barcelona seemed to be on their way to another victory, but Atalanta had other plans.
In the 79th minute, Mario Pasalic struck the final equalizer. He controlled a pass inside the box and nutmegged goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny with a low shot. The Italian side celebrated as they secured a crucial point.
Atalanta Face Knockout Round Playoff
Atalanta finished ninth in the new league-phase standings with 15 points.
This means they will now play in the two-legged knockout round playoff instead of advancing directly to the last 16.
They will find out their opponents in Friday’s draw, with the games scheduled for February.
Barcelona finished second in the standings. They had already confirmed their qualification last week after a thrilling 5-4 comeback win against Benfica.
Five-time Champions League winners, Barcelona last lifted the trophy in 2015.
Flick Satisfied but Sees Room for Improvement
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick was pleased with the result but admitted the team must improve.
“The result was OK,” Flick said. “We played against a team with a great style and good philosophy. In the second half, we showed more confidence.”
However, he highlighted the need for better defending. “The only thing is we can defend better as a team. We have the potential to do more. We will use the coming weeks to work on improvements.”
Atalanta’s Tough Road Ahead
Atalanta have had to battle against tough opponents like Arsenal and Real Madrid in the new Champions League format. They will now have to go through the playoff round to secure a last-16 spot.
Despite missing Ademola Lookman, Atalanta showed great fighting spirit. Their fans will hope they can go deep in the competition.
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