Crucial Atalanta-Villarreal tie postponed due to snow

[ad_1]

Atalanta vs. Villarreal is postponed due to heavy snow. Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

The Champions League Group F clash between Atalanta and Villarreal was postponed on Wednesday due to heavy snow in Bergamo.

Manchester United had already confirmed top spot in the group and both sides have the opportunity to finish in second place, making this match effectively a playoff.

– ESPN FC 100: Presenting the top male players and managers of 2021
– Champions League group stage: How every team finished
– Champions League round-of-16 draw: Seedings, date, details

English referee Anthony Taylor initially delayed the start of the match by 20 minutes, while an orange ball was introduced and red lines were painted on the pitch in order to stand out against the snow.

However, with the snow not abating, Taylor had no choice but to postpone the match at the Gewiss Stadium until Thursday, Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. GMT (1 p.m. ET).

Victory for Atalanta would be enough to see the Italian side through to the next round, while any other result would send Villarreal through.

Young Boys’ draw with United at Old Trafford in the group’s other match guaranteed Atalanta at a place in the Europa League. Had the Swiss side won the match, Atalanta would have needed at least a draw to secure third place.

Villarreal qualified for the competition as the Europa League winners while Atalanta are competing for the third consecutive season, having reached the knockout stages in each of their previous two.

[ad_2]

Source link