Stadio Olimpico plays host to a monumental clash between AS Roma and Atalanta, which could determine which team stays in the hunt for a top-four place or even Europe.
Over the years, Serie A has seen some sensational races for a top-four spot, and this season is no different. It is rather more interesting this time around, as teams from second to seventh are all in with a chance, although some hopes could be ended as early as this upcoming weekend.
AS Roma have gone from bringing hope of a title challenge for a considerable portion of the season to now scrambling to stay relevant for a European place. Having picked up just four points from their last five games, Gian Piero Gasperini’s men had seen their Champions League hopes diminish, but a stellar win over lowly Pisa may have revived their plans to an extent.
A hat-trick from new talisman Donyell Malen secured a 3-0 win for Roma over SC Pisa, which has kept them close to fourth-placed Juventus. Gasperini would have also liked the fact that Como dropped points against Inter Milan, which keeps them only a point below Cesc Fabregas’s side, while trailing the Bianconeri by three points heading into the next round of fixtures.
The visitors to Stadio Olimpico are none other than Gasperini’s former side, Atalanta, led by Raffaele Palladino. Incidentally, the Bergamo outfit have a stellar recent record when travelling to face Roma, having stayed unbeaten in 10 of their last 11 visits at the Olimpico, including a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture this season.
For Palladino, the ultimate objective might be crawling back into the top-four reckoning, but the immediate target is to secure the final European spot, currently held by Roma. Incidentally, they are four points behind the Giallorossi, and Saturday represents a big chance to get back into the European race and close the gap on Gasperini’s men.
A loss, however, would make life extremely difficult, as they would then find it challenging to finish in any of the European places. Hence, Palladino must come into this clash with the intention of winning, and their recent record of four straight wins over AS Roma will stand them in good stead, although their overall form has been a bit concerning, a concern that also includes last weekend’s loss to Juventus.
Team News & Tactics
AS Roma
On one hand, not many are surprised by the drop-off from AS Roma, but injuries have been a big factor in Gian Piero Gasperini’s side losing steam at a crucial stage in the season.
The capital giants are still missing key men like Manu Kone and Wesley, as well as the attacking trio Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk, and Evan Ferguson. They are now set to be without key midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini for at least three weeks due to an injury.
In positive news, key defender Gianluca Mancini could make his return after being out for a short spell, as he could come straight back into the starting lineup and feature alongside Evan Ndicka and Mario Hermoso in that back three. Furthermore, attacker Niccolo Pisilli is also expected to return from a knock sustained in training.
Gasperini will once again rely on the in-form Malen to get among the goals, with the Dutchman already notching ten strikes since joining AS Roma in January.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Celik, Cristante, El Aynaoui, Rensch; Soule, Pisilli; Malen
Atalanta
Raffaele Palladino has a relatively shorter injury list than his predecessor, Gian Piero Gasperini, with only Isak Hien, Kamaldeen Sulemana, and reserve goalkeeper Francesco Rossi unavailable for the trip to the Italian capital.
The Atalanta boss will once again continue to play with a back three, in a shape very similar to that of AS Roma, as Giorgio Scalvini, Berat Djimsiti, and Sead Kolasinac are set to play at the back.
Davide Zappacosta will continue to take up the right wing-back spot, with Lorenzo Bernasconi on the other flank in a similar role. Marten De Roon and Ederson are the preferred midfield choices for Palladino centrally.
Atalanta’s Nikola Krstovic is currently top of the charts in Serie A for shots taken per ninety minutes, and he will lead the line for Atalanta against AS Roma this weekend. Charles De Ketelaere and Nicola Zalewski are the preferred duo to play behind the central striker to provide the attacking impetus.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, De Roon, Ederson, Bernasconi; De Ketelaere, Zalewski; Krstovic
Key Stats
- AS Roma have taken only four points from their last five games before the win over Pisa.
- Roma have won only one of their last 11 home games against Atalanta.
- Atalanta have won six of their last seven matches against Roma in all competitions.
- Atalanta have won only five of their 15 away games this season in Serie A.
Player to Watch
Donyell Malen
A sensational decision from Roma in January to sign Malen from Aston Villa could prove to be the best they have made in years. The Dutchman has hit the ground running in Italy after scoring his 10th goal of the season last weekend against Pisa.
With Roma still missing a host of their attacking talents, Malen will be given the task of getting the goals and propelling the team once again into the top-four running. He will also be key to Roma beating Atalanta, against whom they have a terrible record at Stadio Olimpico.
Prediction
AS Roma 2-2 Atalanta
Atalanta have plenty of things to sort out with regards to clinching a European spot, and while they would use their exceptional record away at AS Roma as fuel, they must also look at their own form heading into this game. A draw seems like a fair outcome, although both teams are expected to put up a fight.
Roma are in a decent vein of form, and while they are battling a few key injuries, this game would seem important for them to win for multiple reasons. Overall, an entertaining draw is written all over this fixture, with doubts whether either side will be happy with a point at the end of it.
