Final result: Roma-Atalanta 0-2
Roma’s report cards (by Giacomo Iacobellis)
Svilar 6 – He gets his gloves dirty after just 4 minutes, but Retegui’s header doesn’t even worry him. Reactive on a couple of occasions, always on Retegui and De Ketelaere, he shows, as usual, great reliability between the posts. Not guilty of the two goals conceded.
Left-handed 5 – Stops Atalanta’s attackers by hook and often by crook. He is almost always effective, and this is what counts, but on Zaniolo’s goal he has the disadvantage of naively letting himself be anticipated in the header. Without forgetting the missed goal in front of Carnesecchi.
Hummels 6.5 – Finally the Hummels in the Borussia Dortmund version that every football fan has learned to appreciate. Absolute leader of Roma’s three-man defense, the German this time plays an impeccable performance: see the advance on Retegui in the 40th minute or the intervention on De Ketelaere’s cross in the 59th minute (From the 74th minute El Shaarawy 5.5 – ElSha enters to cause a bit of havoc in the opposing half of the field, but no particular flashes of him are remembered).
Ndicka 6 – Clean and punctual in closing, he is the defender who is seen least in the Capitoline trio. Which can also be a good thing since there are no particular stains or smudges in its performance.
Celik 5 – Kolasinac and Ruggeri significantly limit his range of action, then here’s the stain that decides the game in the negative: it’s his (involuntary) deflection onto De Roon’s plate, just as it was his short clearance that favored the shot of the Dutch (From the 72nd minute Saelemaekers 6.5 – The Belgian enters much better than El Shaarawy, immediately adding some spice to Roma’s game. The ball that Mancini fails to capitalize on in front of goal is inviting to say the least).
Koné 6 – Once again shows personality, determination and muscles in the middle of the pitch. He starts out more blocked, but slowly breaks away looking for space forward. In his game there is also a great shot from outside that grazes the top corner.
Paredes 6 – If the Argentine has regained ownership in the middle of the pitch, there must be a reason: against Atalanta, for example, his covering work is fundamental in supporting the central defenders. He doesn’t give up his shot from outside either, as can be seen after just 4 minutes.
Cristante 5.5 – He is the surprise formation compared to the London eleven and his weight in midfield certainly helps Roma keep up with Atalanta’s setters, especially in the first half. He drops to the distance and eventually comes out due to a physical problem (From 82′ Soulé sv).
Angelino 5.5 – The match against Bellanova promised to be a spectacle, at least on paper, however neither one side nor the other delivered the offensive contribution that was expected. Pretty stuck.
Dybala 6 – His two holes for Dovbyk, between the first and second half, would have deserved a completely different fate. Flashes in the darkness of a Rome that, up ahead, still tremendously needs its own Joya to turn on the light bulb (From 82′ Zalewski sv).
Dovbyk 5 – He puts in the physique, the desire and the commitment, but in the end he loses the duel with Hien and the other Atalanta defenders. Two occasions, one sensational, and not even a noteworthy shot on goal (From 62′ Shomurodov 5.5< – The results do not change: Roma’s attack never hurts the Dea defense. He cannot be the vice-Dovbyk).
Claudio Ranieri 6 – It starts again from the certainties of London with Cristante as the only novelty. His Roma holds their own against a superior Atalanta on a technical, moral and mental level, but De Roon’s goal loosens them up, bringing out the insecurities of the past. It’s a shame, because for 60-70 minutes the Giallorossi were playing on equal terms. In summary: progress is made from a gaming point of view, but it’s still not enough. Points are needed.
Atalanta’s report cards (by Filippo D’Angelo)
Carnesecchi 6.5 – He opens the match with a super intervention on Paredes, who committed him after a few minutes. During the match he is not called into question much but he is still present.
Kossounou 6.5 – He works very well in the defensive phase and De Roon’s goal is favorable, given that the Dutchman’s conclusion also comes from his incursion into the Roma penalty area. Excellent impact on the match for someone who, in the Atalanta environment, now has an important space. From 83′ Djimsiti sv.
Hien 7.5 – Atalanta’s best on the pitch by a distance. He puts Dovbyk in his pocket and doesn’t even leave crumbs to the Roma attackers, wisely spending a yellow for a foul on Kone. The real added asset of Gasperini’s defense.
Kolasinac 6.5 – He too was the protagonist of a strong performance, enhanced by a series of important duels brought home. The only discordant note was a yellow card in the second half.
Bellanova 6 – Excellent performance from the winger, who pushes considerably in a complex challenge that was only decided in the second half by Atalanta.
DeRoon 7.5 – He opens the ball with a lethal conclusion for Roma, deceived by a deflection from Celik. Network aside, he had one of his best performances, also taking home the MVP award.
Ederson 7 – Roma’s midfielders didn’t see it completely. Intensity, character, determination and quality at the service of the Goddess, who enjoys a total player.
Ruggeri 5.5 – Constantly pushes to the left, even if sometimes he concedes too much to Roma. At the beginning of the second half Gasp shuffles the cards on the table, calling him back to the bench. From the 54th minute Cuadrado 6.5 – His experience was invaluable for Atalanta, also regenerated by his arrival on the pitch. At the end he draws the perfect cross for Zaniolo, who thanks him by bagging the final 0-2.
De Ketelaere 5.5 – Of Atalanta’s heavy trident it is perhaps the one that tries to do the most, with a number of notable opportunities. However, the race is blocked and he, in some cases, also sins due to imprecision. From the 63rd minute Brescianini 6 – A good half hour from the former Frosinone player, who also tries to hit Roma with some shots from outside.
Retegui 5.5 – His evening is difficult. He takes advantage of several chances, especially with his head, but comes across a Svilar who is always on point, capable of neutralizing his every attempt. From 54′ Samardzic 6.5 – He has several chances since he entered the field but Svilar always says no to him.
Lookman 5.5 – Halfway through the first half he scores, but Guida takes away the joy of the goal by signaling an offside. He certainly has ideas, but his quality doesn’t emerge much at the Olimpico. From 64′ Zaniolo 7 – The classic law of the ex. He took over midway through the second half and closed the game with a header, triggered by a corner taken by Cuadrado. The Olimpico booed him as soon as he entered the pitch and he definitely got a lot of satisfaction out of it.
Tullio Gritti 7 – He replaces the suspended Gasperini, who certainly gave important instructions to his deputy from the stand. The changes, then, were all spot on.