Barcelona 2-2 Atalanta (January 29, 2025) Game Analysis

Europa League champions Atalanta missed an automatic place in the Champions League last 16 with a 2-2 draw on Barcelona on Wednesday, with Lamine Yamal and Ronald Araujo scoring for the already qualified hosts.

Atalanta, who was missing one of their top strikers Ademola Lookman due to a knee injury, slid down to the ninth in the position of 15 points and instead plays in the two-legged knockout phase playoff round.

Five-time winners Barcelona, ​​who last lifted the trophy in 2015, had already secured their last 16 quay last week through a dramatic 5-4 comeback victory at Benfica.

“The result was ok,” said Barcelona manager Hansi Flick. “We played against an opponent with a very good team, a great philosophy, the style they play. We have the confidence to do things a little different in the second half. The first goal was how it was good to see the team follow it.

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“Of course really happy, we finish number two, which is the first step in the Champions League. It’s a huge success for the team to finish in second place.”

Yamal gave Barcelona the lead two minutes after the break from point-blank reach before Ederson equalized to Atalanta in the 67th minute with a fantastic shot from the edge of the area sailing inside the left post.

Defends Araujo restored the lead for Barca with a headline after a corner in the 72nd, but Atalanta’s Mario Pasalic equalized seven minutes later, nutmeg muscles wojciech Szczesny with a low strike.

“The only thing is that we can defend better as a team,” Flick said. “We have to analyze everything and do better. We have to work on some things and we have the potential to do even more – and now we have a few weeks to work in training (without knockout -round games ). “

Atalanta, who had to measure themselves against teams such as Arsenal and Real Madrid in the competition’s new league, will know their playoff rivals in the draw on Friday, with the games played on 11-12. February and 18-19. .