Back-to-back victories have kept Roma amid Serie A’s top-four competition and advanced in the Europa League, and they now hope to own one of their main rivals at bay by defeating Atalanta BC on Monday.
Team Form
Atalanta BC
Atalanta’s lacklustre 2023 season continued with their recent draw against Fiorentina, as they could not hold onto their lead and had to settle for a point. This result follows a win against Empoli and Cremonense and a disappointing 2-0 loss at home to Bologna.
Unfortunately for Atalanta, this latest stumble has resulted in them dropping to seventh place in the Serie A standings. This is primarily due to their need for more consistency in the second half of the season, where they have only managed to collect 14 points across 11 matches.
They now face the possibility of missing out on European football for the second year. While this outcome may not be a surprise given their current form, it is still disappointing for Gian Piero Gasperini and his team.
Atalanta BC Serie A Form: L W W L D
AS Roma
On Thursday, Roma secured their spot in the Europa League semi-finals after a nail-biting match against Feyenoord. Despite conceding an early goal and being down on aggregate, Roma managed to stage a comeback and secure a 3-2 victory in extra time. The win means that they will now face Bayer Leverkusen in the next round of the competition.
Roma’s recent form has been encouraging, with three consecutive wins in Serie A and a solid defensive record. This puts them in an excellent position to secure one of the coveted Champions League spots this season.
However, Roma’s grip on third place in the table was weakened by the recent decision to overturn Juventus’ 15-point penalty. This means that Roma now sits fourth in the table, just ahead of their Milan rivals and upcoming opponents on Monday.
AS Roma Serie A Form: L L W W W
Squad Report
Atalanta BC
Atalanta has injury concerns, with Ademola Lookman and Mario Pasalic facing fitness issues ahead of Monday’s match.
Lookman is nursing a thigh injury, while Pasalic is dealing with an ankle problem.
In addition, Matteo Ruggeri will miss out on the game due to injury, joining Hans Hateboer, who has been a long-term absentee from the team.
AS Roma
Roma’s victory over Feyenoord on Thursday has come at a cost, as Chris Smalling and Georginio Wijnaldum had to be withdrawn due to injury. This means they may miss the upcoming match against Bergamo, which is a blow for the team.
In addition, Ola Solbakken and Rick Karsdorp remain unavailable for selection, further limiting Roma’s options.
Atalanta BC expected starting lineup:
Sportiello; Toloi, Djimsiti, Scalvini; Zappacosta, De Roon, Ederson, Maehle; Koopmeiners; Hojlund, Zapata
Roma’s expected starting lineup:
Patricio; Mancini, Ibanez, Llorente; Zalewski, Cristante, Bove, El Shaarawy; Pellegrini, Dybala; Abraham
Head to Head
Atalanta and Roma have faced each other 42 times in the past. Out of these matches, Atalanta has emerged victorious in 13, while Roma has won 20 matches. The remaining nine games ended in a draw.
Time, Date & Venue
Date: Monday, April 24
Time: 06:45 pm, UTC
Venue: Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo
Prediction
It is predicted that Roma’s resilience, coupled with Atalanta’s struggles in front of the goal, will lead to a victory for the visitors. This win could end Atalanta’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.
