Roma-Atalanta 1-0: Abraham’s goal in the 32nd minute

Everything is possible, or almost. Roma makes Atalanta small, hooks them (but the Goddess has one game less) and goes to sleep just three points from the Champions League zone. All this thanks to a 1-0 sanctified by Abraham’s goal. The Nerazzurri had not lost at the Olimpio since the 2014-15 season, but this time they did too little to avoid a knockout at the end of an unspectacular match, which however the hosts capitalized with merit, in front of Totti’s eyes, De Rossi and coach Mancini, who did not miss this challenge with the flavor of Europe in the stands.

Factor Z

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At the start José Mourinho – not on the bench due to disqualification – confirms the three-man defense, preferring Kumbulla to the available Ibanez, but above all entrusting the left wing to twenty-year-old Zalewski in place of Vina, just as he did with Spezia. Now a certified promotion, given the importance that the match has for the Giallorossi. With Mkhitaryan now de facto director, the team effortlessly contains the Bergamo players, who draw little fruit from a 4-2-3-1 distracted in defense and very blunt forward, with Pessina, Koopmeiners and Pasalic not very useful in triggering a Miranchuk called to play as a very spurious center forward. It follows that in the first half Roma, when they manage to skip the first pressing, often knows how to make themselves very dangerous, at least benefiting from those set pieces from which they frequently squeeze precious juice. It is no coincidence that already at minute 3 it is up to Musso to deflect a header from Mancini in flight triggered by a corner kick from Pellegrini. In the spaces the Giallorossi move well, and while the Nerazzurri dribble appears sterile (in the end they will have more ball possession: 65%), the restarts are surgical. This is demonstrated by Zaniolo, who on 18 ‘and 30’ engages Musso in two not difficult saves. The match is unspectacular. Zappacosta is replaced with Pezzella after taking a finger in the eye, but Atalanta does not take off. Except for a phoned shot from Freuler blocked by Rui Patricio, the greatest danger for the Portuguese goalkeeper comes from Karsdorp’s half-sleep on a ball in the box, which is almost transformed by Demiral. Moral: in the 32nd minute, from a silly lost ball at the edge of the Roma area, the Giallorossi restart and Zaniolo sends Abraham into the goal, good at freeing himself behind Palomino. It is the advantage, deserved.

Muriel’s time

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In the second half Gasperini immediately focuses on Muriel in place of Pasalic, moving Pessina to the left and Miranchuk to the right. The start, however, is the yellow and red, with a melee two steps away from the goal saved by Pessina and Musso who must come out in an avalanche on Pellegrini launched at the net alone. At 5 ‘, then, a Zaniolo throat caught in obvious offside is canceled. Atalanta, however, raised the center of gravity and, after a good combination in the area, Rui Patricio strangled Freuler’s shot from two steps. Gasp changes again: inside Malinovskyi and Boga, outside Koopmeiners and Pessina. Roma pulls out the excellent Zalewski, bruised, to put Vina, but after the changes the first ring is the Nerazzurri, with Malinovskyi committing Rui Patricio in the 17 ‘. The match heats up and a minute later, on a corner action, Mancini kicks out from a good position. The game becomes more fragmented. Mourinho covers himself by inserting Veretout in place of Zaniolo to thicken the midfield. At 35 ‘, from a lost ball by Palomino, a good opportunity arrives for Abraham, who however wastes by not framing the goal. The Argentine defender leaves for Djimsiti, while Roma replace Karsdorp, Pellegrini and Abraham for Ibanez, Oliveira and Felix. The Giallorossi raise the bunker confirming the 5-4-1 born at the time of Zaniolo’s exit. For this Demiral ends the game as a center forward to try to take advantage of the high balls. The Turkish player, in fact, in the 45th minute leads Rui Patricio in an easy save. He ends up in a sort of far-west, which De Roon pays for, expelled for a double yellow card. The same fate happens to Mkhitaryan, who takes a second yellow card a few seconds from the end for a voluntary hand ball. Too late for anything. Roma wins, Atalanta loses, even if the Champions’ dream has not yet vanished for both.