Barcelona-Atalanta 2-2, a mockery for the Nerazzurri: in the playoffs by one point

Barcelona (Spain), 29 January 2025 - TheAtalanta goes down twice at the hands of Yamal before and Araujo then he comes back twice, first with Ederson and then with Pasalic, but there is no happy ending: while the Barcelona toasts to the direct passage to the round of 16 of Champions League, the Bergamaschi (who finish with ten men when Scalvini (it hurts with changes already completed) remain outside the top 8 by just one position, now relying on the play-off lottery, which was already mathematically acquired from the last round.

The official lineups

  flick choose a 4-2-3-1 open from Szczesny, protected by Kounde, Araujo, Garcia e Bucket, in turn shielded by De Jong e Pedri: the only tip is Lewandowski, assisted by Yamal, Gavi e Raphinha. Gasperini responds with a 3-4-1-2 that he sees between the posts Carnesecchi, XNUMX Djimsiti, Hien e Kolasinac in defense and the couple Bellanova-Zappacosta on the bands: in the middle of the field they are there DeRoon ed Ederson, while in front there are The Ketelaere e Retegui, supplied by Pasalic.  

First half

  Il Barcelona try to take possession of the ball of the game right away, while on the other side Bellanova he is the spokesperson of the first idea of ​​his. The rest is done by him Szczesny, who stumbles on the ball and gives away a corner toAtalanta: from the developments Pasalic tries with his head, but without luck. The Croatian is then sought by a cross from Zappa costa, but the home defense anticipates and thwarts the threat. At 10' Bellanova goes with a cross from the other outside Zappa costa, who misses the target with his header. In the 11th minute, the Nerazzurri number 77 leads an action that passes through The Ketelaere which, thanks to a deviation from Bucket, commits severely Szczesny. The Barcelona reply immediately with Yamal which moves centrally and ends just to the right of CarnesecchiThe exchange continued in the 13th minute, when Retegui search for the way to the net from an almost impossible area: Szczesny he responds present but gives the guests another turn from the corner. The Blaugrana also earn a corner: he takes De Jong for Lewandowski, who controls the ball badly and is thus anticipated by Kolasinac. After a period of stagnation, try Yamal to take the chair, but first Djimsiti he blocks it and then Carnesecchi intercepts the conclusion. At 31' Zappa costa serves DeRoon, which in turn seeks Retegui: Szczesny, aided by a deflection, takes the ball. In the 36th minute Zappa costa takes the leadAtalanta after a dirty play in the home area: the ball bounces off Garcia but also on The Ketelaere and it is precisely this touch that brings the VAR to cancel everything. The referee Oliver assign 2' of recovery, which Raphinha try to exploit with a conclusion that does not scare Carnesecchi.

Second half

  Back on the field DeRoon tries to give his team the lead with a volley from the outside of the foot that ends up just wide. A missed goal, a goal conceded, because at 47' Yamal scores from the developments of a counterattack opened by Lewandowski and passed by the feet of Raphinha, whose ball in the middle is not read at its best by Carnesecchi: for the home number 19 it is child's play to almost enter the goal with the ball. At 50' theAtalanta could immediately equalize when Szczesny responds so-so to the conclusion of a Pasalic perfectly cast in depth, but Retegui he shows up slightly late for the appointment with the good tap-in. At 54' Raphinha, taking charge of a free kick, tries to mock again Carnesecchi, which this time replicates perfectly. For Gasperini it rains on wet when Kolasinac stays on the ground: the replacement is Scalvini. At 60' Yamal starts a counterattack showing off all his class: then Raphinha e Lewandowski they exchange in the strait but, fortunately for theAtalanta, the latter stumbles on the ball when closing the action. Shortly after The Ketelaere try to embroider for Retegui, but the suggestion is a little too long. The real dangers continue to be packaged by the Barcelona, who in the 63rd minute was denied the doubling by Carnesecchi on the square of Yamal, who found the ball at his feet after a mistake in the clearance by Djimsiti: a corner follows from which developments Kounde kicks but without precision. Just when the goal in the air seems to be that of the Blaugrana, in the 67th minute Ederson equalises the score with a real magic: excellent control on the edge of the area, dribbling to avoid Pedri and deadly conclusion that pierces Szczesny. flick takes cover and inserts Ferran Torres, Fermin Lopez e Cubarsi for Gavi, Lewandowski e GarciaThe guests' joy does not last long, because in the 73rd minute Araujo He brings his team ahead again following a corner and was completely alone at the far post. Gasperini fishing from the bench Square, Ruggeri e Zaniolo, which they detect Bellanova, Zappa costa e Retegui, who was injured after a hard clash with De Jong. At 80' theAtalanta still draws with Pasalic, who receives the central pocket of DeRoon, eludes the recovery attempt of Kounde and bag. flick throw into the fray Casadò for Pedri, while the last move of Gasperini è Brescianini for The Ketelaere. Ironically, at this very moment theAtalanta loses Scalvini due to a shoulder problem, having to finish the match with one man less. The injury time is 5, to the fourth of which Ferran Torres he looks for the second post but finds the gloves of Carnesecchi. flick the card is also played Pau Victor for Yamal before the curtain falls on the match: the Barcelona flies to the eighth finals, while theAtalanta by just one position it is forced into the playoffs.