AS Roma and Atalanta shared the points in a tense 1-1 draw at the Stadio Olimpico, as Marco Carnesecchi’s heroic goalkeeping denied the hosts a crucial victory.
Coming into this fixture, both sides sat firmly in the middle of the Serie A table. Roma arrived in sixth place, seeking to consolidate their European standing, while seventh-placed Atalanta aimed to close the four-point gap between them and their hosts.
The visitors struck early to stun the home crowd. In the 12th minute, N. Krstovic capitalized on a defensive lapse to fire Atalanta into a surprise 1-0 lead.
Roma responded with intensity, pushing forward in search of an immediate equalizer. They controlled the midfield, but found the away defense organized and difficult to break down.
Just before the halftime whistle, the pressure finally told. In the 45th minute, Mario Hermoso rose highest to guide home a vital goal, leveling the score at 1-1.
The teams headed into the break with momentum shifting toward the hosts. Roma looked the more dangerous side, but they required better precision in the final third to secure a lead.
The second half turned into a siege on the Atalanta goal. Roma piled on the pressure, firing shot after shot, but they repeatedly met a wall in the form of goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi.
Carnesecchi delivered a masterclass between the posts, finishing with eight saves. His performance single-handedly kept the visitors in the contest as the match reached its final stages.
Tempers flared as the game wore on, with Ederson, N. Pisilli, and B. Djimsiti all receiving yellow cards. The match grew fragmented, preventing either side from establishing a consistent rhythm.
Despite Roma’s 19 shots and an expected goals (xG) rating of 0.9, they could not find a winner. Atalanta remained compact, relying on counter-attacks that ultimately failed to produce a second goal.
The statistics highlighted the home side’s dominance, with 53% possession and nine shots on target. However, the visitors' efficiency and Carnesecchi's brilliance secured a hard-fought draw.
This result leaves Roma in sixth place with 57 points, while Atalanta remains one spot behind with 53 points. Both teams will need to improve their finishing to climb higher in the table as the season nears its end.
