FC Barcelona made sure of second place in the Champions League on Wednesday (Jan 29) after being held to a 2-2 draw by Atalanta, who failed in their mission for direct qualification for the last 16. Hansi Flick's team finished the new single league phase second on 19 points, ahead of Arsenal and Inter Milan on goal difference thanks to goals from Lamine Yamal and Ronald Araujo.
FC Barcelona missed the chance to finish top of the league phase of the UEFA Champions League as they drew with Atalanta, who dropped into the play-off round.
With a much-changed Liverpool losing 3-2 to PSV Eindhoven, already-qualified Barca would have taken top spot with a victory.
After a goalless first half, Lamine Yamal converted from Raphinha's cross from the left to put Barca ahead two minutes into the second half, only for a great strike from Ederson to pull the Italians level.
Ronald Araujo's diving header restored Barca's lead in the 72nd minute, but Atalanta again fought back with Mario Pasalic prodding the ball past Wojciech Szczesny to make it 2-2.
Atalanta started the day in seventh place, but this draw, along with wins for Lille and Aston Villa, dropped the Serie A side down to ninth.
That means they will play either Sporting or Club Brugge in the play-offs, with the second leg in Italy. The draw for the play-offs takes place at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland at 11:00 GMT on Friday, Jan 31.
Barca, meanwhile, bypass the play-offs and jump straight into the last 16 of the competition.
Atalanta, who had to measure themselves against teams such as Arsenal and Real Madrid in the competition's new league phase, will know their playoff rivals in the draw on Friday, with the games being played on Feb 11-12 and Feb 18-19.
