Villarreal became the last team to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League as a double from Netherlands international Arnaut Danjuma gave them a 3-2 win at Atalanta in their rearranged final Group F match on Thursday.
The game was due to take place on Wednesday but was postponed due to snow, and Villarreal wasted no time putting himself in the driving seat, with Denjuma running to break the deadlock within three minutes.
Forward Villarreal! I pic.twitter.com/wSQDmuDcFs
— Arnaut Danjuma (@Danjuma) December 9, 2021
Atalanta had more of the ball in Bergamo and tried many more to score, but their waste proved costly as tienne Capou made it 2–0 three minutes before his break.
The home side knew it would be their only win to take a last-16 qualification spot in the group behind Manchester United, and came out in an all-out-attack mode for the second half.
The teams have 9 former winners until the Champions League Round of 16. meet the contenders#UCL
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 9, 2021
Down the other end, however, Denjuma put the result beyond all doubt with a fine goal on the turn in the 51st minute, before substitute Ruslan Malinowski rifled home to give Atalanta hope 19 minutes from time.
Duvan Zapata scored again for Atalanta, but it was not enough as Villarreal finished second, four points ahead of the Italian side going into the Europa League.
,