snow hope
Atalanta vs Villarreal POSTPONED due to snowstorm in Italy with pair to scrap it out for last-16 spot on Thursday
ATALANTA'S Champions League tie with Villarreal was called off due to a snowstorm - with the showdown for a last-16 place set back to Thursday.
The two sides returned to the pitch to applaud their fans for turning out on Wednesday night after the fierce blizzard meant play was impossible.
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Whoever wins the clash will finish Group F runners-up to Manchester United.
Referee Anthony Taylor was covered by an umbrella as he inspected the pitch while carrying an orange match ball, with his fellow officials smiling alongside him.
And kick-off was initially put back 20 minutes before Taylor bowed to the elements and postponed the crucial encounter.
The Villarreal squad - with the planned starting line-up still in their shorts - then came out of the dressing room to thank their supporters for making the trip.
Pre-match music was still playing around the ground as the Spanish team walked over to the small band of followers who had made the 1,650-mile round trip to Bergamo in Northern Italy to see them.
Meanwhile, much-changed United were held 1-1 at home by Young Boys.
Mason Greenwood showed superb technique to fire home Luke Shaw's cross as early as the ninth minute.
But shortly before the interval Fabian Rieder curled a stunning equaliser for the Swiss visitors and United's early promise never quite returned.
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Whatever the result at Old Trafford, though, United will go through as group winners.
But Atalanta, as well as Villarreal, will be desperate to avoid repeat snowy conditions in Italy on Thursday.
Such dire conditions would spark another nightmare cancellation and more fixture confusion.
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