At the end of the 19th Serie A matchday, neighbors Atalanta Bergamo and AS Roma faced each other in the battle for the international ranks. Away from two goals, José Mourinho once again made the headlines
Roma coach José Mourinho was left to rant in his second home game of the year – during the week they had come from 1-0 down to beat Serie B side US Cremonese 2-1 in the last 16 of the Coppa Italia. Once again with the referee. Aurelio Aureliano, who refereed the clash between AS and Atalanta Bergamo at the end of matchday 19, did not penalize a push and shove by former Schalke player Kolasinac against Dybala, who was in possession of the ball, as a foul and therefore possibly as an emergency brake shortly before the break. The VAR did not intervene either, and instead “The Special One” received a yellow card for his complaints.
The whistle could have been blown, as Kolasinac had made no move towards the ball, but the decision stood. Just like the fact that a Roma side that dominated the venerable Stadio Olimpico on Sunday evening were simply unable to convert their superiority into a lead
In fact, Atalanta, coached by Gian Piero Gasperini, who had also been in demand in the cup during the week (3-1 against Sassuolo Calcio), took a surprise lead. After a cross from Miranchuk, who had moved to the outside, Koopmeiners held his own in the center against the too-passive Karsdorp and nodded in unstoppably to make it 1:0 (8th minute). Later, de Ketelaere almost made it 2:0, but AS keeper Rui Patricio made an outstanding save (22nd minute)
Dybala scores from the spot
But that was as good as it got in the Bergamo attack, which was shut out for long stretches by Mancini, Cristante & Co. The Giallorossi’s attacking unit around an agile Dybala, who was difficult to separate from the ball, offered much more, even if the final pass was often missing. There were still chances, but Atalanta keeper Carnesecchi was the man of the moment. The goalkeeper saved against Lukaku (21st) and a treacherously deflected Dybala cross (21st) – was also lucky that Dybala failed to hit the ball from the best position (33rd) and a teammate saved on the line after Karsdorp’s finish (35th).
Why did it still go into the break at 1:1? Because Bergamo’s professional Ruggeri comically extended his leg when Karsdorp took the shot just described and hit his opponent on the foot with his studs. The result was a penalty, which Dybala did not miss with a confident shot into the right corner (39′). That was to be the score at the break, also because Kolasinac’s push on Dybala in stoppage time did not result in a whistle
Mourinho jumps and sees red
The second half is quickly told: For a long time, nothing happened apart from half-baked finishes or a Dybala overhead kick to the right (56′). Instead, both teams got in each other’s way, fouls were committed and little risk was taken
A large number of changes further hampered the already almost non-existent flow of the game. It was only in the closing stages that the Romans stepped up a gear again, aiming for 2:1 and creating chances along the way. However, Lukaku missed once from a difficult position (80′), before the Belgian fired over to the right (82′) and later almost broke through in stoppage time and was not whistled for a supposed foul. This upset Mourinho once again, who swore again, ran onto the pitch, jumped into the turf in anger and was shown the next card for this misconduct shortly afterwards – red and a sending-off for “The Special One”, not the first time in his time at Roma.
In the end, the scoreboard at the Olimpico read 1:1 – too little for both clubs in the battle for international football. The city derby awaits Roma on Wednesday evening (6pm) in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, also at Lazio Rome. Atalanta are also among the last eight teams and will face Milan a few hours later in San Siro (9 p.m.).
