The Champions League zone is not far, Roma can reach it, however, the big question is do they really have the quality to be among the top four in Serie A. In order to prove that, they need to make a turn and start winning against direct competitors. So far, Jose Mourinho’s team rarely won against any of them: defeats against Milan, Inter and Juventus, draws with Lazio and tonight with Atalanta – 1:1 (1:1).2016 – Roma have drawn their first Serie A match played in a calendar year for the first time since 2016, in that case a 3-3 draw against Chievo. Stalemate. #RomaAtalanta— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) January 7, 2024 The exception to the rule was the match against Napoli, but in that game, the current Serie A champions had two men down and only then did Roma managed a win. And in tonight’s game, Atalanta again presented themselves as a team too tough for Giallorrosi. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini is haunting the club from the Eternal City and Jose Mourinho. Nothing is sweeter to Gian Piero Gasperini than to steal points from Roma. And he does it so well, for eight years now. Especially at the Olimpico stadium, where he lost only once. With this draw, his team is only three points away from the Champions League spot, while Roma needs four to catch Fiorentina. José Mourinho gets a red card in his first Serie A game of 2024.New year, same José 😅 pic.twitter.com/9mSyZdsxpg— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 7, 2024 In Roma’s attack, things are dangerously wrong. It is far from the fact that there are no quality players, because there are Paulo Dybala, Romelu Lukaku, options from the bench are Andrea Belotti, El Shaarawy, Sardar Azmoun. They create opportunities, but do not realize them. Roma created 30 half-chances against Atalanta, and scored the only goal from a Paulo Dybala penalty. He kindled hope, but it was only a spark. The door did not burst into flames. The hand-to-hand battle from the first half was replaced by a row battle in the second half. Gianluca Scamacca’s goal was disallowed, and Romelu Lukaku missed two solid opportunities. The defenders of Atalanta led by the super talented Giorgio Scalvini thwarted Roma’s attacks, Jose Mourinho was increasingly nervous and received a red card in stoppage time. He couldn’t help himself.
