Crippled due to AFCON, Roma and Atalanta are fighting for Europe

An emotional welcome is being prepared in Bergamo for Gian Piero Gasperini. The Roma coach left an indelible mark on the city, and the entire town is grateful to him for everything he did over the past ten years. Just how deep the bond between Gasperini and Bergamo is can be seen in the fact that Gian Piero regularly returned to the Lombard city during international breaks. The void left by Gasperini’s departure — only Trapattoni spent more years on the Juventus bench than Gasp did on Atalanta’s in Serie A history — has not been filled by Ivan Jurić, nor has Raffaele Palladino managed to change the trend in recent weeks since taking over the team.

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Tonight’s clash is more important for Atalanta than for Roma, since the Giallorossi would remain in the race for a Champions League place even with a defeat, while for La Dea another home setback would likely mean a definitive farewell to hopes of returning to European competitions next season. Truth be told, the only safety net, at least for the Europa League, would be the Coppa Italia. With Gasperini on the Atalanta bench, Roma were something of a nightmare. The Bergamo side have won the last three meetings and are unbeaten in the previous six matches (five wins and one draw). However, Atalanta have never managed to record four consecutive victories over Roma.

Atalanta have recorded only three home wins in the league this season, along with four draws and two defeats. In their last eight Serie A matches, La Dea have not drawn once, while Roma, together with Inter, are the only clubs in Serie A yet to play a draw this season. Roma, too, have been rather inconsistent of late, especially away from home, having returned empty-handed from their last two away trips (Cagliari and Juventus). Overall, after four consecutive away wins at the start of the season, the Romans have taken points from only one of their last four away matches — in Cremona. The hosts are weakened by the absences of Lookman and Kossounou (Africa Cup of Nations) and Bellanova (injury), while the visitors have travelled without Ndicka and El Aynaoui (Africa Cup of Nations), as well as Pellegrini, Baldanzi and Bailey (injuries).

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Tonight’s match will have special significance not only for Gasperini, but also for a number of players on both sides who have previously worn the opposing club’s shirt. Scamacca and Zalewski both came through Roma’s academy. Zappacosta had a brief, meteoric spell in the Eternal City, largely disrupted by injury. On the other side, Mancini and Cristante have become pillars of Gasperini’s Roma, just as they once were at Atalanta.

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Palladino is unlikely to make many changes compared to the team we saw against Inter. Despite a major mistake by Djimsiti that cost La Dea the match, the Albanian international is expected to keep his place in the starting lineup. The only change should see Sulemana replace Pašalić. Gasperini, too, is not expected to alter the starting formation that scored three goals against Genoa in the first half. The only question mark concerns the role of the main striker: Dovbyk has recovered from injury and could push Ferguson out of the starting XI.

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 18

Friday

Cagliari - Milan 0-1 (0-0)

/Leao 50/

Saturday

Como - Udinese 1-0 (1-0)

/De Cunha 18(p)

17.00: (1.88) Genoa (3.35) Pisa (4.50)

17.00: (1.95) Sassuolo (3.50) Parma (4.40)

20.00: (1.27) Juventus (5.60) Lecce (12.0)

22.45: (2.35) Atalanta (3.40) Roma (3.25)

Sunday

14.30: (3.30) Lazio (3.10) Napoli (2.35)

17.00: (1.80) Fiorentina (3.60) Cremonese (5.10)

20.00: (2.65) Verona (3.05) Torino (2.90)

22.45: (1.43) Inter (4.50) Bologna (7.50)

***odds are subject to change***