Mateo Retegui (L) has scored 26 targets in all competitions for Atalanta this season (Isabella BONOTTO)
Lazio and Roma did not strike a blow within the race for Champions League soccer after the capital metropolis rivals performed out a tense 1-1 draw on Sunday.
Matias Soule earned Roma a degree with a sensational first time strike within the 69th minute at a packed and loud Stadio Olimpico which noticed Lazio fail to capitalise on their dominance.
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Marco Baroni’s facet keep sixth, three factors behind fourth-placed Juventus in a good battle for a top-four end which might effectively go all the way down to the ultimate day of the season.
The derby draw and Fiorentina solely managing a goalless stalemate with Parma made it an ideal day for third-placed Atalanta who beat rivals Bologna 2-0 within the day’s early fixture.
Lazio seemed set to safe native bragging rights and shut in on the highest 4 when lifelong fan Alessio Romagnoli thumped residence an ideal header two minutes after half-time.
That they had created nearly all of possibilities as much as that time and have been solely denied taking the lead early by some spectacular goalkeeping from Mile Svilar.
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However Soule punished nominal hosts Lazio when he strode onto Alexis Saelemaekers’ move and from manner outdoors the penalty space let rip with a curling strike which snuck behind the road by way of the crossbar.
Argentinian Soule’s fourth purpose of the season saved Roma’s blushes however ended coach Claudio Ranieri’s excellent Rome derby file as coach and left his workforce 5 factors behind Juve.
It’s to Ranieri’s credit score nevertheless that Roma are solely two factors away from Lazio as that hole was 15 when he took cost for the third time in his lengthy managerial profession again in November.
Ranieri will retire for the second time on the finish of this season earlier than taking on what sporting director Florent Ghisolfi known as a “sporting guide” function with the membership.
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– Atalanta bounce again –
Atalanta are 4 factors above fifth-placed Bologna due to a third-minute tap-in from Mateo Retegui and Mario Pasalic’s first league purpose since November not lengthy afterwards.
Retegui’s early strike was his twenty sixth purpose of the season in all competitions for Atalanta, and the Italy ahead additionally arrange Pasalic to information residence a fragile volley along with his good cross within the twenty first minute.
These targets ended a three-match dropping run with out scoring for Atalanta and have been their first in a house league fixture for the reason that begin of February.
“I am glad as a result of it had been just a few months that we might not gained right here, we have to make our residence matches rely within the remaining weeks of the season,” mentioned Pasalic.
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“Scoring immediately actually helped us as a result of it provides you extra freedom to play.”
Atalanta got here into Sunday’s key conflict and not using a Serie A win in Bergamo since earlier than Christmas however they stopped the house rot with a mature efficiency on the Gewiss Stadium.
Bologna seemed to have the initiative in a good combat for 2 Champions League spots, with Inter and Napoli contesting the league title and virtually assured of qualification.
Vincenzo Italiano’s workforce had gained 5 of their earlier six matches and have been unfortunate to solely draw with second-placed Napoli final weekend.
The one unfavorable observe for Gian Piero Gasperini was seeing defender Sead Kolasinac being stretchered off with a knee damage simply earlier than half-time, the most recent in an extended line of bodily issues for each the Bosnian and Atalanta this time period.
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