Unlike the media-friendly Roma, who took all the headlines for its nicely done transfer window, Atalanta stayed out of the spotlight. They haven’t bought any players from PSG and Manchester, they didn’t have the money to pay Paolo Dybala’s wage but they stuck with their system and the result is (again) there – after 7 rounds, they are leaders of Serie A, after a won in Rome, against Jose Mourinho’s team: Roma – Atalanta 0-1.🗣 Reporter: “Jose Mourinho said that Roma deserved to win the game because they created more chances”🗣 Gasperini: “They can take the chances created home. I take the three points.” pic.twitter.com/Ie8MaxzCSg— MT (@6dombele) September 18, 2022 Atalanta have picked up 17 points from a possible 21 and allowed just three goals so far in Serie A, which is their best ever start in Serie A since they came back to the top league in 2012. And today they again played like an experienced crew – they won after their only shot on target in the 35th minute, and largely kept Roma out of their penalty area. On the other side, the home team missed a few good chances and Tammy Abraham will be angry with himself due to missed chances.
Roma won both meetings with Atalanta last season but Jose Mourinho failed to make it three in a row. The Portuguese even got himself expelled in the second half after an angry appeal on penalty which was denied after a VAR check. Roma are already missing players through injuries, but unlike Wijnaldum, who got injured before he stepped on the field, Paolo Dybala was very influential. The Argentine playmaker has been involved in five of Roma’s eight Serie A goals so far this season with three goals and two assists and he got injured in warmups and had to be replaced. And Roma missed him.The biggest chance in the first half and one of the best in the whole match was missed by Abraham, who got a perfect ball in the open space, ran over Atalanta defenders and took a shot, only to see the ball come near the post. Roma had another chance minutes later but advancing Sportiello brilliantly blocked the shot.
After another unsuccessful penalty appeal in the 57th minute (this one was checked by VAR), Mourinho went all of his frustration at the referee and was sent off. Atalanta pressed the home team and nearly scored the second in the 61st minute, but Abraham was well placed to hack a deflection off a teammate off the line. Roma had a good effort minutes later, but Ibanez didn’t put his head the right way and the ball went near the bar. Roma were so desperate to score that they even subbed Abraham with a forgotten man Shomurodov, but he missed two excellent chances in the last 10 minutes of the game. Atalanta played a lousy second half with 40% of possession and no shots on target, but it was all part of the plan – to let Roma attack and then use the counterattack as the way to score the second goal. It didn’t work, but on the other side, Roma also failed to score, and all in all, Atalanta got the win and sat at the top of Serie A.SERIE A – ROUND 7FridaySalernitana – Lecce 1-2 (0-1)/Gonzalez 55 og – Ceesay 43, Strefezza 83/SaturdayBologna – Empoli 0-1 (0-0)/Bandinelli 75/Spezia – Sampdoria 2-1 (1-1)/Mutillo 12 og, Nzola 72 – Sabiri 11/Torino – Sassuolo 0-1 (0-0)/Alvarez 90+3/SundayUdinese – Inter 3-1 (1-1)/Skriniar 22 og, Bijol 84, Arslan 90+3 – Barella 5/Cremonese – Lazio 0-4 (0-3)/Immobile 7, 21, Milinkovic-Savic 45+2, Pedro 79/Fiorentina – Verona 2-0 (1-0)/Ikone 13, Gonzalez 90/Monza – Juventus 1-0 (0-0)/Gytkjaer 74/Roma – Atalanta 0-1 (0-1)/Scalvini 35/21:45: (2.35) Milan (3.35) Napoli (3.30)***odds are subject to change***