Roma will look to bounce back from the disappointment of Monday’s draw with Bologna when they visit Atalanta and Bergamo on Sunday lunchtime.
The Giallorossi saw their run of victories come crashing to an end, but with Luciano Spalletti not having given up on second place yet, will look to get back to winning ways against Atalanta.
The Lupi had won nine games out of 10 in the lead up to Monday’s encounter, cutting the gap to second place from 10 points to four in the process. Being unable to defeat the Rossoblu saw that figure increase to six again.
Atalanta themselves will be no pushovers for Roma, as not only have the Orobici won their last two home games to all but secure Serie A status, but they also won the first meeting between the two this year.
That was Atalanta’s first away victory at Roma since 2003, but their poor record in Rome is not repeated in home games against Sunday’s oppoenents. This will be the 54th home game for La Dea against the Giallorossi and they currently hold an 18 to 17 advantage in terms of wins, with 18 draws.
Yet the Orobici will have to make do without a number of players as they look for a third straight home victory. Both Marten de Roon, who was sent off against Torino, and Luca Cigarini, booked in that game, are suspended for this clash.
They are joined on the sidelines by the injured duo Carlos Carmona and Alessandro Diamanti, whose career has stalled since his return to Italy. Roma old-boy Marco Borriello has started to become a regular feature for La Dea, though his appearance is likely to be for the last half hour or so.
Spalletti’s injury list features just one name, that of William Vainqueur, though the Frenchman was never a guaranteed selection when he was fit to play. This means he can welcome Radja Nainggolan back to the starting line-up, with Iago Falque likely to drop to the bench.
Daniele De Rossi is closing in on second place in Roma’s list of Serie A appearance makers. Should he play on Sunday, his 385th game for the club in the top flight would leave him just one behind Giacomo Losi.
That means former Zenit St Petersburg tactician will be left again to decide whether to start Francesco Totti after his influential performance after coming off the bench on Monday night.
Form Guide
Atalanta (L-L-W-W-L) Roma (W-W-D-W-D)
Expected Starting XIs
Atalanta: Sportiello; Masiello, Toloi, Paletta, Drame; Kurtic, Migliaccio, Freuler; D’Alessandro, Pinilla, Gomez.
Roma: Szczesny; Florenzi, Manolas, Rudiger, Digne; Pjanic, De Rossi, Nainggolan; Salah, Perotti, El Sharaawy.
