Barcelona Vs Atalanta: 2-2 Draw Means Blaugrana Finish Second In UEFA Champions League
Lamine Yamal and Ronald Araujo scored as already qualified Barcelona were held to a 2-2 draw by Atalanta in the Champions League.
Barcelona made sure of second place in the Champions League on Wednesday after being held to a 2-2 draw by plucky Atalanta, who failed in their mission for direct qualification for the last 16.
Atalanta, who were missing one of their top strikers Ademola Lookman because of a knee injury, slipped down to ninth in the standings on 15 points and will play in the two-legged knockout phase playoff round instead.
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Hansi Flick’s team finished the new single league phase second on 19 points, ahead of Arsenal and Inter Milan on goal difference thanks to goals from Lamine Yamal and Ronald Araujo.
Five-time winners Barcelona, who last lifted the trophy in 2015, had already secured their last-16 berth last week through a dramatic 5-4 comeback win at Benfica.
Barca had the chance to claim top spot after Liverpool lost at PSV Eindhoven and twice went ahead, but were pegged back in the 67th and 79th minutes by Ederson and Mario Pasalic.
The match looked set for a grandstand finish when Pasalic poked home Marten de Roon’s pass but the Italians’ hopes of a historic win at the Montjuic Olympic stadium vanished when Giorgio Scalvini was stretchered off after falling awkwardly on his shoulder with three minutes remaining.
Defender Scalvini, who has missed most of this season with a serious knee injury, left the field moments after Atalanta made their last substitution of the evening, leaving Gian Piero Gasperini’s team with 10 men for the final minutes.
Speaking after the final whistle, he said “I’m satisfied with the result. We played well against a good team with a great playing philosophy … I am happy for the team, for the fans and for the club."
Barca will now face one of Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Monaco or Brest in the last 16 while Atalanta will have to brave the play-offs after dropping out of the top eight and finishing ninth.
“Hard work is more important than potential opponents" he included. Whatever happens, Barça now have an extra fifteen days to prepare.
Atalanta, who had to measure themselves against teams such as Arsenal and Real Madrid in the competition’s new league phase, will know their playoff rivals in the draw on Friday, with the games being played on Feb. 11-12 and Feb. 18-19.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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