Serie A Gameweek 14 caps off on Monday with a mouth-watering showdown between in-trouble Roma and in-form Atalanta. Determined to show the nook amid a disastrous marketing campaign, Claudio Ranieri’s fees return to the Stadio Olimpico with renewed confidence following a good end in midweek UEFA Europa League motion.
Veteran defender Mats Hummels went from flop to high in Thursday’s heavyweight conflict towards Tottenham Hotspur. After conceding an early penalty at hand Spurs the lead, the ex-Borussia Dortmund stalwart notched a last-gasp equalizer to salvage for Roma.
Evan Ndicka was additionally on the scoresheet, saving Ranieri’s blushes following Roma’s embarrassing efficiency on his Serie A touchline debut towards Napoli final weekend. Ex-Giallorossi center-forward Romelu Lukaku scored a well-deserved winner for the Partenopei, condemning Roma to their fifth defeat in six league matches.
Whereas their hosts stay stranded within the decrease reaches, Atalanta may lastly make a quantum leap this season and take dwelling a first-ever Scudetto. Firmly embroiled within the title race, Gian Piero Gasperini’s high-flyers dismantled newly promoted Parma 3-1 at Stadio Artemio Franchi per week in the past, holding a one-point distance of leaders Napoli.
Reluctant to relaxation on their laurels, Atalanta threw a spectacle in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League away recreation towards Younger Boys. Charles De Ketelaere ran the present in Bern as La Dea trounced the Swiss champions 6-1. With two objectives and three assists, the Belgian ahead nearly single-handedly tore Joel Magnin’s aspect aside to maintain La Dea in competition for computerized knockout qualification.
Match Preview
Roma
Roma’s depressing three-game dropping league streak within the lead-up to this contest hardly makes for good studying because the hosts danger being neglected of the European race already in December. Caught a whopping 12 factors adrift of sixth-placed Juventus, the Giallorossi should discover a approach out of this full-blown disaster to reignite their lofty pre-season ambitions.
Confidence may come from their first rate dwelling kind. Roma have received 4 of their final seven aggressive matches on the Olimpico (D1, L2). Nevertheless, it’s value noting that each defeats in that sequence arrived towards 2023/24 top-five finishers Bologna and Inter, casting doubt on their bid to topple final season’s fourth-placed staff.
Gradual out of the blocks, Roma have conceded the opening aim in 4 of their final 5 outings throughout all competitions, therefore a rotten five-game winless patch (D2, L3). One other sluggish begin may price them dearly towards Atalanta’s free-flowing assault.
However since they’re one among solely two Serie A groups but to attain inside quarter-hour this time period, it’s onerous to anticipate Roma to get this encounter off to a flyer.
Atalanta
Including to this sentiment, Atalanta netted a league-high six objectives within the opening quarter-hour on the finish of Matchday 13, highlighting Gasperini’s aggressive strategy from the get-go. Such an angle has vastly improved the guests’ title probabilities, with La Dea boasting the division’s greatest scoring report initially of this spherical.
Although they’ve racked up a jaw-dropping 34 objectives, solely 14 arrived on the highway. Nevertheless, that hasn’t prevented Atalanta from stitching collectively a three-game profitable league streak on the highway. This achievement is a part of a broader run of six consecutive away victories throughout all competitions, every secured by a decisive multi-goal margin.
Making it seven on the bounce may show a tall order on the Olimpico, however Gasperini’s lads have fared outstandingly on this floor, dropping simply as soon as on their final ten visits to Roma’s dwelling venue (W4, D5). That stated, since a 2-0 triumph in September 2019, they’ve failed to attain greater than as soon as in 4 successive away league conferences with the Giallorossi (W1, D2, L1).
Staff Information
Ranieri subbed Roma standout performer Paulo Dybala at halftime in London. Nevertheless, it was solely a precautionary measure. The Argentine is match and prepared for this match. The identical goes for Alexis Saelemaekers, who made a late cameo look towards Tottenham following a prolonged spell on the sidelines.
This recreation will come too early for Mario Hermoso, whereas prodigious midfielder Niccolo Pisilli serves a one-game ban for gathered yellow playing cards.
Then again, Atalanta will make this journey with out long-term absentee Gianluca Scamacca. The Italian striker is the one lacking participant within the visiting camp after captain Rafael Toloi and up-and-coming Giorgio Scalvini overcame their niggling harm issues.
An absence of match health means Davide Zapaccosta will seemingly keep on the bench in favor of Raoul Bellanova, whereas Nicolo Zaniolo may face his former aspect.
Roma vs Atalanta Potential Beginning Line-ups
Roma (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Mancini, Hummels, Ndicka; Celik, Kone, Pellegrini, Angelino; Dybala, El Shaarawy; Dovbyk.
Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac; Bellanova, Ederson, De Roon, Ruggeri; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Retegui.
Roma vs Atalanta Prediction
Regardless of Roma’s important kind woes, they’re able to halting Atalanta’s momentum. Nevertheless, it appears nobody can contact Gasperini’s fees lately as we again La Dea to take care of their wealthy vein of kind and pour extra distress on the downtrodden Giallorossi.