Chelsea flop sets up date with Belgians after late Montjuïc equaliser

Report and photo by Alessandro Schiavone at Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, Barcelona

Chelsea flop Mario Pasalic's 2-2 equaliser in Barcelona on Wednesday night secured 9th place for Atalanta.

Having missed out on the top eight and automatic progress by a single point, the reigning Europa League winners have now been pitted against Club Bruges in the Champions League play-offs.

On Wednesday at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, Lamine Yamala gave the Catalans the lead when he finished off Raphina's immaculate square ball across the face of goal.

Ederson then levelled the game with a thumping effort from range which left ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny no chance.

But Hansi Flick's men battled back and found their second breakthrough when defender Araujo headed home at the far-post from Raphina's corner.

Yet Croatian midfielder Pasalic, who was signed by Chelsea from Hajduk Split as a 19-year-old back in 2014 before setting off on a nomadic career on loan, let his poacher's instincts loose when he shot between Szczesny's legs on 79 minutes.

Had they found the net one more time they'd have jumped from 9th to 5th in the standings.

But with Bruges up next Gian Piero Gasperini's men should still have enough to make it through to the last-16.