On matchday 1 of the 2021-2022 UEFA Champions League Group F, it ends 2-2 at the Estadio de La Cerámica against Villarreal.
The Nerazzurri got off to a great start as they broke the deadlock after only six minutes: Zapata laid it off for Freuler, who opened the scoring with a snooker shot. Two minutes later, Gosens burst into the box and fired a right-foot shot, forcing Rulli to get down to save it. Every time the Nerazzurri push, they get dangerous but a super save from Musso was well needed to parry Moreno’s close-range shot on 35 minutes. Villarreal scored the equaliser in the 39th minute anyway when Trigueros made the most of a rebound and made it 1-1. And just before half-time, Musso denied Moreno once again, this time from point-blank range.
The second half opened up with a left-foot curler from Malinovskyi that forced Rulli to palm his shot out from the top corner and then Gosens turned wide after Toloi’s good pass. The Nerazzurri almost restored their lead in the 53rd minute when Zapata’s header bounced off the bar. Moreno flicked wide on 67 minutes but then Villarreal completed the comeback in the 73rd minute when Groeneveld beat Musso. Moreno nodded wide in the 79th minute but it was Gosens that made it all square on 83 minutes, after being assisted by Miranchuk’s back-heel flick on Iličić’s pass. One minute later, Villarreal went down to 10 men as Coquelin received a second yellow card. However, they almost clinched a late win when Moreno forced an astonishing Musso save. The Nerazzurri goalkeeper did amazing to keep the scoreline down to 2-2.
VILLARREAL 2-2 ATALANTA
Scorers: Remo Freuler 6 (A), Trigueros 39 (V), Groeneveld 73 (V), Gosens 83 (A)
Villarreal: Rulli, Foyth, Raul Albiol, Pau Torres, Pedraza (Mario Gaspar 88), Parejo, Capoue (Coquelin 61), Trigueros (Moi Gomez 61), Gerard Moreno, Dia (Groeneveld 61), Pino (Alberto Moreno 73). Bench: Asenjo, Mario Gaspar, Alcácer, Iborra, Estupiñán, Groeneveld, Moreno, Coquelin, Peña, Mandi, Moi Gómez. Coach: Unai Emery.
Atalanta: Musso, Toloi, Palomino, Djimsiti (Demiral 61), Zappacosta, de Roon (Koopmeiners 71), Freuler, Gosens, Malinovskyi (Pašailć 71), Pessina (Miranchuk 79), Zapata (Iličić 71). Bench: Rossi, Sportiello, Mæhle, Koopmeiners, Pezzella, Scalvini, Miranchuk, Lovato, Iličić, Pašalić, Piccoli. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Referee: Clément Turpin (FRA)
Assistant referees: Nicolas Danos (FRA), Cyril Gringore (FRA)
Fourth official: Jérémie Pignard (FRA)
V.A.R.: Jérôme Brisard (FRA)
A.V.A.R.: Stéphanie Frappart (FRA)
Notes: Coquelin (V) was sent off on 84 after receiving two yellow cards; Capoue (V), Gerard Moreno (V), Pino (V), de Roon (A) booked.