On Sunday evening Roma had to admit defeat to Atalanta Bergamo. Despite the best opportunities, AS went down goalless and also lost coach José Mourinho to a sending off
Rome coach José Mourinho made three changes after the 2-0 over HJK Helsinki: Abraham, Celik and Smalling came in for Belotti, Karsdorp and Vina. The fourth change was not made. As Dybala, who had been scheduled to play in the warm-up, had to pull out at short notice, the veteran Matic remained in the starting line-up.
Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini changed half of his starting eleven compared to the disappointing 1-1 draw against US Cremonese: Okoli, Soppy, Malinovskyi, Lookman and Muriel all remain out. Scalvini, Maehle, Ederson, Pasalic and Höjlund all started instead.
Scalvini precise, Abraham desperate
In a tough opening phase, the home side got into the game better, but it was not really dangerous. Sad highlight of the first 30 minutes: A collision between Demiral and his keeper Musso, who then had to leave the field (6th). He was replaced by the veteran Sportiello, who in the 35th minute saw youngster Scalvini score the 1:0 for Bergamo with a very well-considered shot from distance.
A wake-up call for the Giallorossi, who were much more determined and had their first chance through Abraham in the 41st minute. But the Englishman just missed the ball. But that was not all: only seconds later Ibanez failed to beat Sportiello, before Abraham missed his third top-class chance within four minutes as time expired and sealed La Dea’s lead at the break.
Zaniolo falls, Mourinho flies
After the change of ends, the racy top game developed, which one would have wished for from the beginning. Ten minutes were played when Zaniolo fell against Okoli and called for a penalty kick (55th). But referee Daniele Chiffi was right not to give it – and thus upset José Mourinho so much that he earned himself a red card after some emphatic complaints (57th).
Shortly afterwards, sport came to the fore again: first Abraham saved Celik from an own goal on the line (61st), before Ibanez narrowly missed an equaliser after a corner kick (67th). The Giallorossi then pressed for the equaliser, but there were no real chances for a long time in a game that was full of tense exchanges and many yellow cards.
It was not until the 87th minute that a cross found substitute Shomurodov, but he headed the ball past the goal from close range. Bergamo’s first away win at Roma since 2019 thus stood.
After the international break, Atalanta host AC Florence on 2 October (6pm). Roma host Inter Milan on 1 October (6pm).
