BARCELONA starting XI (4-2-3-1): Szczesny, Koundé, Araujo, Eric Garcia (subbed for Cubarsì), Balde, De Jong, Pedri (subbed for Casadò), Lamine Yamal (subbed for Pau Victor), Gavi (subbed for Fermin Lopez), Raphinha, Lewandowski (subbed for Ferran Torres)
Bench: Inaki Pena, Kochen, Ansu Fati, Torre, Fort, Gerard Martin
ATALANTA starting XI (3-4-1-2): Carnesecchi, Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac (subbed for Scalvini), Bellanova (subbed for Cuadrado), De Roon, Ederson, Zappacosta (subbed for Ruggeri), Pasalic, De Ketelaere (subbed for Brescianini), Retegui (subbed for Zaniolo)
Bench: Rui Patrício, Rossi, Toloi, Samardzic, Cassa, Palestra, V. Vlahovic
As expected, Barcelona dominated possession with 68 per cent. The Spanish side created 12 chances to Atalanta’s eight.
The Italians thought they had taken the lead nine minutes before the break, but Davide Zappacosta’s goal was ruled out by VAR for being narrowly offside.
The home side broke the deadlock just after half time when Lamine Yamal took Raphina’s inviting ball around the keeper and finished into an empty net.
Ederson equalised for the visitors in the 67th minute after taking on his man and blasting a shot from outside the box.
Ronald Araujo put Barcelona back in front five minutes later with a cheap headed goal. He was left completely unmarked at the back post during a corner and punished Atalanta for it.
Atalanta made it 2-2 in the 79th minute when Mario Palasic took an excellent first touch in the box to control Marten De Roon’s cross before lunging to get a toe on the ball and subsequently nutmegging Wojciech Szczesny in the Barcelona goal.
Atalanta finished the opening round in ninth position – just one point from finishing in the top eight. The draw for the playoff round will be held on Friday, January 31.
