On the final matchday of the UEFA Champions League 2021-2022 Group F, Atalanta face Villarreal. The fixture is scheduled for Wednesday 8 December at 21.00 CET at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo and will decide who qualifies for the last 16. The question is still open. The teams are in the race for one precise goal, as well as for the third spot that allows participating in the UEFA Europa League. Villarreal are on 7 points, Atalanta on 6 and Young Boys on 4 behind Manchester United, who are already qualified on 10 points.

Villarreal, who were defeated by Manchester United at home in the last round, will come to Bergamo with the option of two out of three results. The first match that took place at the Estadio de la Cerámica on 14 September ended 2-2: after Freuler’s opener, the Spanish side came from behind with the goals by Trigueros and Danjuma and then Gosens equalised the match.

In the League, Villarreal have 16 points after 15 games and are fresh from the 1-0 away loss to Siviglia.

The Spanish Club’s history and palmares

Villareal Club de Fútbol Club are a football club based in Vila-real, in the Spanish province of Castellón, that have almost a century-long lifespan. In fact, it was founded in 1923. This year it is their 22nd participation in the Spanish Top League, La Liga, in which they made their debut in the 1998-1999 season. Since then, they have had big achievements both at the national and international level, having participated in the European tournaments 14 times and having shown some extraordinary results such as winning the UEFA Europe League last season, after defeating Manchester United in the final on penalties. They had other prestigious achievements such as the UEFA Champions League semifinal (2005-2006) and quarter-final (2008-2009), the UEFA Europe League semifinals (2003-2004 known as UEFA Cup, 2010-2011 and 2015-2016) and the second place in the Liga (2007-2008). Their palmares also include two UEFA Intertoto Cups.