Atalanta missed out on an automatic spot in the Champions League last 16 after a 2-2 draw against Barcelona yesterday. Despite goals from Lamine Yamal and Ronald Araújo for the already-qualified hosts, the Europa League champions dropped to ninth in the standings with 15 points and will now compete in the two-legged knockout phase play-offs.
Barcelona, five-time Champions League winners, had secured their last-16 place last week with a dramatic 5-4 comeback win over Benfica. Manager Hansi Flick praised his team’s performance, saying, “The result was OK. We played against a strong opponent with a great philosophy. The team showed confidence and responded well in the second half.”
Atalanta, missing key striker Ademola Lookman due to a knee injury, fought hard but couldn’t secure the win needed to advance directly. The draw means they will face a playoff round to keep their Champions League hopes alive, while Barcelona look ahead to the knockout stages with confidence.
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