Due to a snowstorm in Bergamo yesterday, the last match of this year’s Champions League group stage was postponed for today and the visitors from Spain seem to have used the day off better than the home Atalanta team. Arnaut Danjuma scored twice and Etienne Capoue joined him on the scoreboard to send the Italian side to the elimination round of the second-best European club competition.It took less than 300 seconds for the reigning Europa League champions to take the lead. Danjuma collected a delightful pass inside the box and netted with a clinical low drive into the middle of the goal.Gian Piero Gasperini’s men were obligated to kick it up a notch, but they weren’t as intense as one would expect. Until the half-time whistle, black-and-blue had only one substantial opportunity. In the 16th minute Remo Freuler unleashed a thunderbolt of a shot from the edge of the box but Geronimo Rulli did well to stop it going into the top right corner.Atalanta simply did not show that energy they got us used to lately so the Spanish side took advantage via Etienne Capoue with a wonderful piece of finishing in the 42nd minute. He made a yard for himself after a well-taken pass inside the box and netted under the crossbar.Second half showed more of the lost Atalanta side. The energetic presence of the always tricky Gasperini’s side was nowhere to be found. Six minutes into the second half Villareal were three goals ahead thanks to another goal from Danjuma. Dutchman found himself some space inside the box to get on the end of a pass from Gerard Moreno and then sent the ball into the bottom right corner.What was even more worrying for the home fans was the fact that up until that point the visitors were closer to scoring their fourth than Atalanta were to their first of the game. But the hosts did not give up.In the 62nd minute Gerard Moreno tried a curler from the edge of the box, but it slid just wide of the left post. It was then when the good old intense Atalanta showed up.A minute later, hosts responded via Duvan Zapata who sent the ball just wide of the right post. Zapata’s teammate Ruslan Malinovsky was more successful in the 71st minute, scoring a consolidating goal for the Goddess of Bergamo.Colombian also managed to score in the 80th minute. Zapata collected a pass and from inside the box he lifted the ball over Geronimo Rulli, who was off his line. Final ten minutes were nail-biting. Zapata had a chance in the 85th minute, then two minutes later Luis Muriel shook the left post with his attempt. As it turned out, Gasperini’s men woke up too late.UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUEGroup stage – matchday 6Atalanta – Villareal 2-3 (0-2)/Malinovsky 71, Zapaya 80 – Danjuma 3, 51, Capoue 42/
