Atalanta picked up a crucial three points at the Gewiss Stadium on Monday as they defeated Roma 3-1 to strengthen their European hopes. Roma goalkeeper Rui Patricio made a poor error late on that allowed Teun Koopmeiners to add a third straight after Lorenzo Pellegrini had got the Giallorossi back into the match.
Pasalic Volley Hurts Roma
There was a lively crowd in Bergamo, despite the slow start to the game, with neither side mustering a single shot after the opening ten minutes. Roma had kept a number of regular starters on the bench after their elongated Europa League victory over Feyenoord last Thursday, including Paulo Dybala, Nemanja Matic and Leonardo Spinazzola.
Ederson was the biggest threat in the first phases of the match as he got the better of Roger Ibanez down the right flank for the hosts. The visitors started to grow into the game as the first half progressed but it was Atalanta who took the lead through Mario Pasalic towards the break.
The Croatian caught the ball sweetly on the volley following some superb play down the left by Duvan Zapata. Roma ‘keeper Patricio was left helpless as he stayed rooted to the centre of the goal, despite La Dea managing just a single shot in the first half. Atalanta proved clinical as they took the lead.
Second Half Changes But Atalanta Double Lead
Jose Mourinho introduced Dybala, Matic, Spinazzola and Stephan El Shaarawy midway through the second half as he tried to change things up with his side still a goal down. Dybala looked threatening when he came on, showing some promising signs in the attacking third.
However, it was Atalanta who struck for the second time in the match with less than 20 minutes to go, following a corner. Jose Luis Palomino got the first header on goal, which was first denied by Patricio but Rafael Toloi made no mistake on the rebound, heading home from close range. The Giallorossi would have been disappointed with their defending as Ibanez struggled once more.
Patricio Disaster
Pellegrini got the away side back in the match in the 83rd minute, nevertheless, offering Roma a way back into the game. The Italian finished the ball well with a low strike into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side would hit back immediately, however, to restore their two-goal lead, with Koopmeiners capitalizing on a shocking error by Patricio.
There would be more late action as Pellegrini threatened once more, this time being denied by the post with a free kick. Roma wouldn’t be able to fight their way back into the match though as they sit in fifth after the loss, with Atalanta moving to just four points behind the Giallorossi as their hopes for European football next term nourish.