Barcelona 2-2 Atalanta
Lamine Yamal shines, but Atalanta deny Barcelona top spot
Lamine Yamal’s brilliance wasn’t enough for Barcelona, as they twice let their lead slip in a 2-2 draw with Atalanta in the Champions League. The teenage sensation was Barca’s standout performer, scoring the opener and creating several chances, but the Italian side proved too resilient, denying Hansi Flick’s team the top spot in their group.
Barcelona started sluggishly, with Atalanta showing early promise. The visitors thought they had taken the lead in the 36th minute when Davide Zappacosta fired home, but a VAR check ruled him offside, giving the hosts a lucky escape.
Just moments into the second half, Barcelona struck on the counter. Raphinha picked out Yamal with a well-timed pass, and the youngster coolly rounded the goalkeeper before finishing into the net. It was the spark the home side needed, and Yamal soon played in Robert Lewandowski with a perfect pass. The Polish striker seemed certain to score but lost his footing at the crucial moment, sending the chance wide. Yamal continued to cause problems, weaving past defenders to get a shot on goal, only for Atalanta’s keeper to deny him.
Despite Barcelona’s attacking threat, their defensive frailties were exposed again in the 67th minute. Ederson skipped past Pedri before unleashing a stunning strike from outside the box to pull Atalanta level.
Barcelona responded quickly. Five minutes later, Raphinha’s corner found Ronald Araujo unmarked at the back post, and the defender made no mistake with his header to restore the lead. But Atalanta weren’t done. Mario Pasalic shrugged off challenges from Jules Kounde and Araujo to squeeze the ball past Wojciech Szczesny, ensuring the Italian side left with a hard-fought point.
Barcelona pushed for a winner in the dying moments, but Atalanta held firm. The draw means Barcelona finish second in their group, missing out on the top spot and a potentially easier path in the knockout rounds.
Goalkeeper & Defence
- Wojciech Szczesny made an early save but was beaten through the legs for the equaliser.
- Jules Kounde struggled to contain Atalanta’s attacking movement, leaving gaps in dangerous areas.
- Ronald Araujo had some shaky defensive moments but made up for it with a crucial header.
- Eric Garcia looked vulnerable against Atalanta’s lively forwards, while Alejandro Balde put in a strong defensive display and provided solid support down the left flank.
Midfield
Frenkie de Jong’s tendency to play backward passes slowed Barcelona’s attack, while Pedri stayed composed under pressure but was outmaneuvered by Ederson for Atalanta’s first goal. Gavi was quiet in the first half but improved after the break, offering better movement and passing.
Attack
Lamine Yamal was the driving force behind Barcelona’s attack, scoring a brilliant opener and creating chances throughout. Robert Lewandowski had a night to forget, wasting his best opportunity with an unfortunate stumble before being substituted. Raphinha, meanwhile, played a key role, setting up Yamal’s goal and delivering the corner for Araujo’s header.
Despite Yamal’s magic, Barcelona couldn’t secure top spot, and now they face a more challenging road ahead in the Champions League.
