Three takeaways for Hansi Flick from Barcelona 2-2 Atalanta | UEFA Champions League

Barcelona led twice in opposition to Atalanta final evening within the last spherical of the UEFA Champions League group stage and have been within the driver’s seat to complete first within the standings.

Nevertheless, they conceded on each events, permitting the Serie A aspect to equalise and take a degree residence on the full-time whistle.

Credit score the place it’s due, Atalanta have been the extra impressed of the 2 groups at Montjuic, just because they wanted the win extra badly. That they had a dream to qualify on to the Spherical of 16 however finally fell simply quick as they earned only a level.

For Barcelona, Lamine Yamal and Ronald Araujo have been on the scoresheet and the supervisor is not going to look too deeply into the consequence on condition that it was by no means the precedence.

Barça Common brings you three takeaways for Hansi Flick from Barcelona 2-2 Atalanta.

A draw that doesn’t imply a lot

Lamine Yamal was on the scoresheet in opposition to Atalanta. (Photograph by David Ramos/Getty Pictures)

After six straight wins within the UEFA Champions League, Barcelona settled for a 2-2 draw in opposition to Atalanta on the ultimate match day of the league stage of the competitors.

The Catalans have been firmly in second place on the standings given their comfy purpose distinction and the one goal they might presumably purpose for on the evening was to overhaul Liverpool ought to they drop factors.

Certainly, the Premier League giants did fall to a 2-3 defeat in opposition to PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona would have taken the primary place with a win final evening.

But, there’s not a lot to rue about when one considers the broader scheme of issues as ending first offers no benefit over ending in second place.

Each Barcelona and Liverpool will now enter reverse halves of the draw and may solely meet in a possible last. The remainder of the draw, largely, is not going to be affected by the groups positioned first and second and the Catalans’ path to a possible finale is thus unaffected.

Implications going ahead

Barcelona completed second within the UCL group stage. (Photograph by David Ramos/Getty Pictures)

Having completed within the high 2 of the league stage standings, Barcelona and Liverpool will face one of many 4 groups positioned between fifteenth to 18th primarily based on the draw and playoff consequence.

These 4 groups will now be drawn in opposition to one another, with PSG and Benfica taking up both Monaco or Brest respectively and the winners of every playoff continuing to the Spherical of 16.

For starters, Hansi Flick and Co. will probably be happy to have prevented the giants in Bayern Munich and Actual Madrid within the subsequent spherical, particularly on condition that it appeared extraordinarily believable forward of kickoff.

Extra attention-grabbing, nonetheless, is the truth that Barcelona confronted and defeated three of the 4 potential knockout opponents within the league section. The one crew they didn’t meet of the 4 was PSG.

Additional, the draw ensures that Barcelona keep away from the likes of Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Actual Madrid, Manchester Metropolis, Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Arsenal till a possible semifinal.

Up till then, their solely doable formidable opponents embrace Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta, PSG and Aston Villa.

Szczesny’s blended evening

Wojciech Szczesny had a blended sport. (Photograph by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Pictures)

Loads will be mentioned concerning the particular person performances of the gamers donning garnet and blue final evening.

The Catalans lacked a way of urgency within the first half, got here out significantly better after the break however didn’t press with their all at any level on the evening.

One participant whose efficiency has severely come beneath the radar, nonetheless, is Wojciech Szczesny and paradoxically so on condition that Hansi Flick solely made his determination to want the Polish shot-stopper forward of final evening’s conflict.

Szczesny did certainly provide you with some clutch saves in opposition to Atalanta to maintain Barcelona within the sport throughout the first half. His reflexes have been spectacular as was his uncooked shot-stopping means.

His consolation on the ball and distribution, nonetheless, have been extremely worrisome and never for the primary time. As a Barcelona goalkeeper, having composure in possession might be extra vital than shot-stopping means.

Szczesny appeared shaky on the ball from the get-go, struggled to play out from the again and infrequently gave the ball away cheaply by way of his distribution. He didn’t look composed beneath the press of the Atalanta forwards one bit and questions should be raised.

His efficiency final evening has introduced followers out calling for the return of Inaki Pena, who is probably not as a lot of a clutch shot-stopper however a large improve when it comes to ball-playing means. It stays to be seen the place Flick stands on this subject.