Barcelona concluded the inaugural League Phase of the Champions League in second place overall following a 2-2 draw with Atalanta at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium on Wednesday night. Despite twice taking the lead in the second half, the Blaugrana were unable to hold onto their advantage, allowing the visitors to snatch a point in Catalonia. This result sees Barcelona finish behind Liverpool in the group standings.
First Half: Struggles Against Atalanta’s Press
The opening period was defined by Barcelona’s difficulty in handling Atalanta’s aggressive pressing and tight man-marking approach. Whether opting for short passing sequences or attempting long balls from the back, Barça found it challenging to create meaningful opportunities. Their best chances came through long-range efforts from Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, neither of which posed a serious threat to Atalanta’s goal.
Conversely, the visitors looked more dangerous in attack. Atalanta came close to scoring with a dangerous cross from the left wing that required an exceptional clearance from Alejandro Balde. Additionally, they threatened through a couple of well-executed headers from set-pieces, while Davide Zappacosta had a goal disallowed due to a marginal offside call.
As the first half concluded, it was evident that Atalanta were the superior side, playing with the urgency of a team needing a victory to secure a Top 8 finish. Barcelona, on the other hand, needed to produce something extraordinary in the second half to turn the game in their favor.
Second Half: Goals and Drama Unfold
Barcelona delivered an immediate response after the break, taking the lead just 90 seconds into the second half. Robert Lewandowski played a superb through ball to Raphinha, who sent a low cross into the box. Lamine Yamal reacted swiftly, outmuscling Sead Kolasinac and slotting the ball home to put Barça ahead.
The match suddenly came to life, with Atalanta nearly equalizing moments later as Mario Pasalic forced a fine save from Wojciech Szczesny. Barcelona then had two golden opportunities to extend their lead—Raphinha’s free-kick was well saved by Marco Carnesecchi, and Lewandowski missed a clear chance on the counter.
Barça’s failure to capitalize on their dominance soon proved costly. In the 67th minute, Davide Zappacosta set up Éderson at the edge of the area, and the Brazilian unleashed a powerful strike past Szczesny to level the score.
However, Barcelona responded quickly. In the 72nd minute, Raphinha delivered a pinpoint corner kick, finding Ronald Araujo at the far post. The Uruguayan defender rose above his marker to head the ball into the net, restoring Barça’s lead.
Atalanta, desperate to keep their knockout stage hopes alive, made attacking substitutions in search of another equalizer. Their persistence paid off in the 79th minute when Marten De Roon floated a cross into the box, allowing Pasalic to finish clinically through Szczesny’s legs.
The Italian side’s momentum was halted in the 90th minute when Giorgio Scalvini suffered a shoulder injury after Atalanta had used all five substitutions, leaving them with 10 men for the closing moments. Barcelona controlled possession in the dying minutes and nearly snatched a winner, but Ferran Torres saw his effort brilliantly saved by Carnesecchi.
Barcelona Secure Second Place
With the final whistle, Barcelona secured a second-place finish in the group standings. While a victory could have seen them top the group, the result still ensures a favorable path in the knockout stages and valuable prize money. With European football on pause until March, Barça can now focus on domestic competitions, including La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
Match Lineups and Goalscorers
Barcelona: Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Eric (Cubarsí 69’), Balde; De Jong, Pedri (Casadó 80’); Yamal (Víctor 90+6’), Gavi (Fermín 69’), Raphinha; Lewandowski (Ferran 69’)
Goals: Yamal (47’), Araujo (72’)
Atalanta: Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac (Scalvini 55’); Bellanova (Cuadrado 77’), De Roon, Éderson, Zappacosta (Ruggeri 77’); Pasalic; De Ketelaere (Brescianini 87’), Retegui (Zaniolo 77’)
Goals: Éderson (67’), Pasalic (79’)