Barcelona miss Champions League top spot as they settle for draw against Atalanta

Barcelona missed the opportunity to finish top of the Champions League league phase after a 2-2 draw with Atalanta, who dropped into the play-off round.

With Liverpool suffering a 3-2 defeat to PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona only needed a victory to secure the top position.

After a scoreless first half, Lamine Yamal put Barca ahead two minutes after the break, converting Raphinha’s cross. Atalanta responded with a brilliant strike from Ederson to level the match.

Ronald Araujo’s diving header restored Barcelona’s lead in the 72nd minute, but Mario Pasalic equalized for Atalanta by slotting the ball past Wojciech Szczesny.

The draw, coupled with wins for Lille and Aston Villa, dropped Atalanta from seventh to ninth, sending them to the play-offs where they will face either Sporting or Club Brugge.

Barcelona, meanwhile, bypass the play-offs and advance directly to the last 16. The play-off draw is set for January 31 at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.