The Yellows Academy side drew against Atalanta with goals from Torrents and Pacheco
Villarreal drew against Atalanta in Bergamo, ending the UEFA Youth League group stage in second place. The Yellows came away with a point after fighting back from 2-0 down thanks to goals from Joan Torrents and Antonio Pacheco. It was a match affected by the bad weather, with it snowing at some points.
The Yellows went into the game second, and had to win to have any chance of finishing first. They drew, and will now need to play a play-off round against a side from the Champions Path.
The match started badly for the away side. The Italians went ahead after a penalty was given against Filip Jorgensen with a quarter of an hour on the clock. Captain Renault stepped up and scored (1-0, m.15).
The rain and the cold temperatures affected the match. Villarreal were trying to pass and find a gap in the hard-working Italian defence, but were unable to do so.
It was 2-0 at the start of the second half. Fisic, who had just come on, went round Jorgensen and scored into an open goal (m.47).
Villarreal warned Atalanta that it wasn’t over with a Torrents shot that hit the post.
And it was Torrents who got a goal back in the 74th minute, getting on the end of a loose ball in the box (2-1).
Pacheco got the final goal, scoring at the back post after a low Torrents cross (2-2, m.84).
Lineups:
Atalanta BC: Sassi; Del Lungo, Berto, Ceresoli; Renault, Omar (Oliveri, m. 80), Zuccon (Muhameti, m. 62), Chiwisa (Panada, m. 62), Regonesi; Pagani (Fisic, m. 46), De Nipoti (Sidibe, m. 46).
Villarreal CF: Jorgensen; Marcos (Segura, m. 69), Espigares, Joan Ruiz (Joaquín Saavedra, m. 91), Pablo Navarro; Tiago, Jordi Ortega (Rodri Alonso, m. 60), Aitor Gelardo, Hinojosa (Emiliano, m. 60), Pacheco; Joan Torrents.
Goals: 1-0. Min. 15: Renault (penalti). 2-0. Min. 47: Fisic. 2-1. Min. 74: Joan Torrents. 2-2. Min. 84: Pacheco.
Referee: Yasar Kemal Ugurlu (Turkey). Booked: Chiwisa, Omar (Atalanta BC); Pacheco (Villarreal CF).
Stadium: Centro Sportivo Bortolotti.
