Barcelona have completed the league phase of the new format UCL in second place. The Catalans were ahead twice in the final points match against Atalanta but concluded the game in a draw. Ultimately, Barca missed out on an opportunity to top the UCL table. Here’s the match review:
A Boring First Half: Sloppy Play by Barca
Barcelona was not the better team by any means in the first half. Passes were not connecting, and possession was squandered continuously. The Catalans found it challenging to break the Atalanta defence and, on several occasions, could not even build attacks from the back.
Lamine Yamal was the only bright prospect of the first half, as the 17-year-old insisted regularly on his flank. He consistently put Zappacosta and Kolasinac in trouble and almost scored from a left-footed shot in the 12th minute.
Raphinha and Lewandowski were average, too, as was the defense. A 35th-minute VAR decision overturned Atalanta’s goal due to offside. The defense was terrible, and the Barca backline’s positioning was poor. The half ended at 0-0.
Four Goals in the Second Half: Entertaining twists Until The End
The second half promised goals, and just minutes into the half, Yamal opened Barca’s account with a superb finish. It was set up from a brilliant cross from Raphinha, and Yamal calmly netted it from close range. It was the Yamal show now, as the soon-to-be-no. Ten put the Atalanta defenders in trouble at the right, winning multiple free kicks.
Lewandowski Fluffs Another Sitter
Lewandowski’s bad match worsened in the 60th minute when the big Pole squandered a simple chance set up by Raphinha and Yamal. It was a miss on an easy 2-0, and it will surely haunt the number nine as it might have sealed the match. Things took a sudden turn a few minutes later when Atalanta surprised Barcelona with a banger to equalize. The game became more interesting as the score was 1-1 now, in the 68th minute.
The Triple Change & Barca’s Defensive Woes
Flick made a triple change by bringing in Fermin, Torres, and Cubarsi in the 69th minute, and it worked. The Blaugrana started pushing for a goal and won a corner due to this constant pressure. Raphinha dipped a bullet of a cross at the far end of the goal, which was tucked in by an unmarked Araujo. The Uruguayan celebrated the goal by telling the fans he was here to stay.
However, the defensive blunders continued for Barca as Atalanta players threaded some good passes in the Barca half. The Atalantese midfield linked perfectly and teed up nicely on the right to Marten de Roon. The Dutch midfielder launched an inch-perfect cross in the box, which Mario Pasalic finished through the legs of Szczesny. It was 2-2.
A Draw to Conclude A Great UCL League Phase
The match ended in a draw, and Barcelona might be kicking themselves for the few wasted opportunities. Ferran Torres, the substitute, also missed a free header in the later stages of the game. However, Barcelona will still take the second spot as a win as things ended comfortably for the Blaugrana. Upon his fantastic performance, Lamine Yamal was named the man of the match.
Barcelona finished second behind Liverpool. The Catalans are set to receive $10.3 million for this achievement, excluding any extra earnings from this final match against Atalanta.