Barcelona secures second place in the Champions League group stage after a 2-2 draw with Atalanta. The Italian team, missing one of their top strikers, missed out on direct qualification for the knockout phase and will now have to face the playoff round. Despite this, Barcelona remained in control throughout the match and will now have extra time to prepare for the next round.
Barcelona Secures Second Place in Champions League Group Stage after 2-2 Draw with Atalanta
In a thrilling match at Camp Nou, Barcelona secured second place in Group C of the UEFA Champions League with a 2-2 draw against Atalanta. The Italian team, missing one of their top strikers, Duván Zapata, missed out on direct qualification for the knockout phase and will now have to face the playoff round.
Despite this, Barcelona remained in control throughout the match and will now have extra time to prepare for the next round. The Catalan giants took the lead in the 36th minute through a goal from Lionel Messi, but Atalanta quickly equalized through a strike from Mario Pašalić.
Barcelona regained the lead in the 56th minute through a goal from Luis Suárez, but again Atalanta came back to equalize, this time through a strike from Josip Iličić.
The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with Barcelona finishing second in the group behind Bayern Munich. Atalanta finished third and will now have to face the playoff round.
Background
Barcelona and Atalanta were both in contention to qualify for the knockout phase of the Champions League heading into the final matchday of the group stage. Barcelona needed a win or a draw to secure their place in the next round, while Atalanta needed a win to finish second.
Atalanta had been in impressive form in the Champions League this season, winning three of their first five matches. However, they were missing Zapata for the match against Barcelona, and his absence was a major blow to their chances of winning.
Top 5 FAQs
The playoff round is a two-legged knockout round. The eight third-placed teams from the Champions League group stage will face the eight runners-up from the Europa League group stage. The winners of the playoff round will qualify for the round of 16 of the Champions League.
The playoff round will be played on February 23 and March 16, 2023.
Atalanta could face any of the following teams in the playoff round:
Barcelona are one of the favorites to win the Champions League this season. They have a strong squad and a lot of experience in the competition. However, they will face some tough competition from the other top teams in Europe.
Barcelona have been in good form in recent weeks, winning their last six matches in all competitions. Atalanta have also been in good form, winning their last four matches in all competitions.
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