Barcelona have settled for a dramatic 2-2 draw against Atalanta to end their 2024-25 Champions League League phase run on a disappointing note, MySportDab reports.
The Catalan giants, who have been one of the best teams in the competition so far, failed to edge out the Serie A contingents at their home turf.
It was a tricky affair from the start with Atalanta looking to pull an upset but the hosts were equal to the task.
They dominated proceedings but struggled in front of goal in the first 45 while Atalanta sits back to defend and wait for the perfect moment to pounce.
A dragging first-half with a few clear-cut opportunities saw the two sides settled for barren draw.
For the visitors, it was a strong showing against the Hansi Flick-led side who got off to a roaring start with their characteristic attacking and direct style of play.
However, they could no longer held off the Catalan giants in the second half. Just two minutes into the restart, Lamine Yamal fired the hosts into the lead.
Latching on a brilliant assist from Raphinha, the La Masia graduate netted a screamer to record his 4th goal in the competition and give the hosts a deserved lead.
Atalanta did little to mount a comeback after conceding and were still reeling from the piling pressure by the hosts.
However, seven minutes after the hour mark, Zappacosta scored an equalizer for the away side against the run of play.
Five minutes after the goal, Ronald Araujo came up clutch for the Catalan giants, scoring to help the team retake the lead.
Araujo’s strike saw the hosts closed in on a win but Pasalic scored seven minutes later in the 79th minute to peg them back to a draw again.
The game finally ended with the two teams settling for a dramatic 2-2 draw
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