Atalanta’s Champions League campaign has come to an end, fighting back from 3-0 down for 3-2 and hitting the woodwork three times, as they transfer to the Europa League.
This head-to-head for a place in the Round of 16 was postponed last night due to a snowstorm in Bergamo, so rescheduled for Thursday evening. Robin Gosens was injured and Davide Zappacosta not at 100 per cent, while Villarreal had Yeremi Pino suspended and Francis Coquelin out of action.
La Dea knew only a win would send them into the Round of 16, whereas any other result would see them drop into the Europa League.
It was a disastrous start, as within three minutes Merih Demiral was caught in possession by Dani Parejo, sending Arnaut Danjuma on the counter to nutmeg Juan Musso one-on-one.
Rafael Toloi nodded a Josip Ilicic free kick over with Geronimo Rulli stranded, while the goalkeeper flew to palm a Remo Freuler curler out of the far top corner with one hand and denied Demiral from a corner. Ilicic was largely ineffective, but did have penalty appeals when going down in the box.
Despite all their possession, Atalanta found themselves 2-0 down, as it was again not cleared effectively, rolled across from the right by Moi Gomez and Etienne Capoue blasted into the roof of the net from six yards.
Duvan Zapata went for a free kick and collided heavily with Rulli on the stroke of half-time.
Villarreal added a third on the counter, Gerard Moreno nutmegging Jose Luis Palomino to burst into the box, rolled across, where Danjuma turned on a sixpence to score from seven yards.
Ruslan Malinovskyi’s free kick smacked the top of the crossbar, while Duvan Zapata clipped the base of the near post from close range.
Malinovskyi did get one back with a trademark left-foot scorcher from the edge of the box after Joakim Maehle’s lay-off.
Duvan Zapata made it 3-2 with 10 minutes left on the clock, a splendid Ilicic slide-rule pass allowing the Colombian to spring the offside trap and dink it over the on-rushing goalkeeper.
It turned into a siege, Duvan Zapata’s header straight at Rulli, then a Luis Muriel curler smacking against the upright on 86 minutes, the third time Atalanta hit the woodwork in this game.
Atalanta 2-3 Villarreal
Danjuma 3, 51 (V), Capuoe 42 (V), Malinovskyi 71 (A), Duvan Zapata 80 (A)