JAKARTA - Germany's Robin Gosens gave Atalanta a point in a 2-2 draw against 10-man Villarreal in the Champions League clash on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old's effort in the last 10 minutes saw the Italians move above Manchester United in Group F after the English club lost to Young Boys in their first game in the competition this season.
Reporting Antara, Villarreal had to play with 10 men after French midfielder Francis Coquelin was sent off in the last minute after pulling Teun Koopmeiners shirt.
#VillarrealAtalanta | 1-1 | 2nd HALF▶️ Via alla ripresa! AVANTI RAGAZZI!!💪 2nd half started! KEEP PUSHING LADS!!#UCL #GoAtalantaGo ️🔵 pic.twitter.com/jTsixJhaJY
— Atalanta BC (@Atalanta_BC) September 14, 2021
Villarreal coach Unai Emery fielded two Argentines Geronimo Rulli and Juan Foyth after last weekend's La Liga trip to Alaves was postponed following the extension of the international window for South America's World Cup qualifiers.
Emery's opponent Gian Piero Gasperini made four changes from the side Fiorentina lost in Serie A last week when Juan Musso, who made his competition debut at the age of 27, replaced Marco Sportiello in goal.
Atalanta, making just their third Champions League appearance, were rewarded for their dominance of possession early on when Swiss midfielder Remo Freuler opened the scoring after just six minutes.
Colombian striker Duvan Zapata worked the ball well inside the box and his shot was deflected slightly by Etienne Capoue before Freuler scored.
The Italian team's dominance at the Estadio de la Ceramica in their first group stage game in the Champions League since December 2011 was halted seven minutes before halftime.
Villarreal left-back Alfonso Pedraza found midfielder Manu Trigueros inside the box for the Spaniard to equalize for what was his second goal of the season.
Gasperieni's side pressed again early in the second half as they did in the first half but Zapata's strike eight minutes from the break could only hit the bar over goalkeeper Rulli who was on the bench in Argentina's canceled match against Brazil earlier this month.
Atalanta could not apply pressure so they had to get a penalty with 17 minutes remaining.
Freuler got the ball under control outside the box and Dutch winger Arnaut Groeneveld pounced on the ball with a powerful half-volley.
Gasperini pushed his side in pursuit of an equaliser by bringing on Aleksei Miranchuk for Matteo Pessina and the move paid off with seven minutes remaining.
Josip Ilicic slipped a low cross at the feet of Miranchuk who gently guided the ball to Gosens who comfortably beat Rulli.
️ Usciamo con un ottimo punto dall'Estadio de la Cerámica!👍 We gain a good point in Villarreal!@Plus500 #VillarrealAtalanta #UCL #GoAtalantaGo ️🔵 pic.twitter.com/5iFQtZIthj
— Atalanta BC (@Atalanta_BC) September 14, 2021
Emery's side were dealt a major blow two minutes later when midfielder Coquelin was shown a second yellow card.
But the visitors could not maximize the advantages of players in their midfield. Instead, Emery's men scored a three-pointer in the last minute when Gerard Moreno's header in injury time was saved by Musso with a superb save.
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