**BERGAMO** – Giorgio Scalvini’s early strike proved decisive as Atalanta ground out a hard-fought 1-0 victory over AS Roma in a tightly contested Serie A clash on Friday.
The young defender needed just 12 minutes to break the deadlock, firing home what would be the match-winner in a game defined more by defensive steel than attacking flair. Behind him, Berat Djimsiti delivered a commanding performance, earning an 8.9 rating with three crucial interceptions that repeatedly frustrated Roma’s attacking efforts.
Atalanta thought they’d doubled their advantage in the 29th minute when Gianluca Scamacca found the net, only for VAR to cruelly rule the goal offside. That moment nearly proved costly as Roma, controlling 54.7% of possession, began asserting themselves. The visitors registered four shots on target compared to Atalanta’s two, with Marco Carnesecchi forced into three important saves to preserve the slender lead.
Discipline became an issue before halftime, with Marten de Roon and Raffaele Palladino seeing yellow for the hosts, while Roma’s Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso received bookings of their own. The second half descended into a tactical chess match, with both managers making wholesale changes – five substitutions apiece – as they searched for solutions.
Despite Roma’s territorial dominance and superior passing accuracy matching Atalanta’s 80% completion rate, they couldn’t find the breakthrough against La Dea’s organized backline. Scalvini’s goal-scoring contribution, complemented by Charles De Ketelaere’s two key passes in attack, highlighted Atalanta’s clinical efficiency.
Gianluca Mancini’s two interceptions led Roma’s defensive efforts, but lacking a cutting edge proved fatal. Atalanta’s ability to convert limited opportunities – just two shots on target from 13 attempts – ultimately made the difference in a result that keeps their European ambitions alive while leaving Roma frustrated by what might have been.
