Atalanta stunned visitors AS Roma in a 3-3 thriller at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia in their Sunday morning Serie A clash.
Lucas Digne and Radja Nainggolan gave Roma an early lead, but Atalanta hit back through Marco D’Alessandro before a Marco Borriello double gave the home side the lead. However, Francesco Totti equalised in the dying minutes to salvage a point for the visitors.
No Totti, no party
It has been one of the defining stories of the Giallorossi’s season. The lack of playing time for captain Francesco Totti, first under Rudi Garcia and now under new coach Luciano Spalletti. At the age of 39 many questioned whether we had seen the last of the Roman king, especially after he failed to come off the bench in the derby against Lazio earlier in the month. Taking his place once again on the bench, Totti cant have been happy in the rain in Bergamo. He would play a huge part, but really the team should not have needed him.
2-0 up after 25 minutes and cruising, Roma looked set to continue their fine form. Yet defensive fragilities came to the fore as Atalanta turned the match around. With 10 minutes to go, Spalletti made one last roll of the dice and brought on Totti. The captain made his mark just five minutes after the introduction and scored what could be a massive equaliser in terms of the season. He not only found the net but dictated the play, creating chances which his teammates failed to convert. After his assist for Salah’s goal against Bologna in Roma’s last game, Totti’s role at the club is clearly far from done.
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Former players come back to haunt Roma
It is one of the worst nightmares for a football fan. They look at the teamsheet ahead of the game and see several players in the opposition’s lineup who used to play for their side. They always seem to come back and haunt their previous club and there were three former Roma players who lined up for Atalanta in Bergamo. In truth Rafael Toloi struggled to mark the lively Edin Dzeko at the back for the home side, but it was the other former Giallorossi stars who would make the headlines.
D’Alessandro’s pace caused all sorts of problems, especially for substitute Emerson Palmieri who struggled to keep up. The winger scored Atalanta’s crucial first goal which gave them hope in the game and a slight touch which guided the ball to D’Alessandro was courtesy of another Roma in old boy Borriello. The veteran striker had no goals in his nine previous appearances for Atalanta, but had scored in Carpi’s 5-1 defeat against the Giallorossi earlier in the season. Borriello turned the game around with two goals on either side of halftime, his celebration for the second in particular sending the home crowd wild. Conversely, opposition No.9 Dzeko missed several big chances which would cost his side dear in the final reckoning. D’Alessandro and Borriello emphatically showed Roma what they are missing.
Champions League hopes take a hit
When Roma fans looked ahead to the game against Atalanta, they must have pencilled in three more points for their campaign. Previously the side had not lost in Bergamo for over four years and had picked up seven point from their previously three trips. Since being beaten by Atalanta back in November at the Stadio Olimpico, the Giallorossi had only lost to Real Madrid and Juventus.
But Le Dea once again undid Spatelli’s men, to secure an unlikely point and virtually secure to their place in Serie A next season. It could also prove to be a crucial point for Roma, but it will feel like two dropped. Now the Giallorossi are in third, five points behind Napoli and four in front Inter. Third place means a Champions League play-off, while second is automatic qualification for the competition. With Roma playing Napoli next week, they can dream of a top two finish, but must look over their shoulder too.
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