After their exertions in the Europa League, AS Roma will return to Serie A action this Sunday as they take on title-chasing Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico.
Venue: Stadio Olimpico (Rome)
Key Statistics
AS Roma have won their last three home games in all competitions.
They have not conceded a goal in three competitive games at home this season.
Roma have kept seven clean sheets in their last ten home league matches.
Atalanta are unbeaten in six games this season (W4, D2).
They have kept three clean sheets in the league this season.
They have the best defence in the league having conceded just three goals so far.
Head to head
AS Roma won the two meetings between both sides last season. But over the past 15 head-to-head meetings between both sides, Atalanta have the upper hand, winning six times while Roma have just three wins.
Latest performances in all competitions
AS Roma: W-W-L-L-W
Atalanta: D-W-W-W-D
AS Roma
After recording their first win of the season in Europe, AS Roma will welcome Atalanta to Rome, looking for another three points that will keep their quest for the Serie A title in focus.
Jose Mourinho’s side lost the opening game of their Europa League group stage campaign last week when they were beaten 2-1 by Ludogorets. But they bounced back last Thursday to beat Finland club HJK 3-0 at home.
The win was their second consecutive win in all competitions and followed a 2-1 win over Empoli last Monday, which also came after an embarrassing loss–this time in the Serie A against Udinese (4-1).
The pair of losses aside, the hosts have been impressive this season, with four wins (D1, L1) in their opening six league games. And so they come into this tie sitting in fifth place, just one point behind Napoli and Atalanta, who are the top two sides in the league ahead of this round.
A win in this game could see them go top of the table depending on the result in the game between AC Milan and Napoli. Should the league defending champions and league leaders draw their game, Mourinho’s men will go top of the table going into the international break with a win in this game.
Having won their last three games at home without conceding a goal, they will come into this tie confident of getting a result.
Possible AS Roma starting line-up
Rui Patricio; Gianluca Mancini, Chris Smalling, Roger Ibanez; Zeki Celik, Bryan Cristante, Nemanja Matić, Leonardo Spinazzola; Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini; Tammy Abraham
Injured: Georginio Wijnaldum, Ebrima Darboe, Stephen El Shaarawy, Marash Kumbulla
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Atalanta
While they missed the opportunity to go two points clear at the top of the table with a disappointing 1-1 draw with newly promoted Cremonese last time out, Atalanta maintained their unbeaten start to the season with the result.
The visitors dropped two crucial points in the race for the Scudetto last Sunday when they let a one-goal lead slip against Massimiliano Alvini’s side.
Despite that draw, they come into this tie as the second-best team in Serie A after six rounds of games. With 14 points to their name, they are level on points with top-placed Napoli but with a worse goal difference.
Having rested throughout the week due to their lack of involvement in any European competition, they will travel to Rome, the fresher of both teams. And with each of their last three Serie A away games ending with a win and without a goal conceded, they will fancy their chances of getting a win that could see them enter the international break top of the league table
Possible Atalanta starting line-up
Juan Musso; Caleb Okoli, Rafael Toloi, Merih Demiral; Brandon Soppy, Marten De Roon, Teun Koopmeiners, Hans Hateboer; Ruslan Malinovsky, Ademola Lookman; Luis Muriel.
Injured: Berat Djimsiti, Marco Carnesecchi, Jeremie Boja
Doubtful: Duvan Zapata
Suspended: None
Prediction
Roma 2-1 Atalanta
