Roma vs Atalanta 28/08/18

28 August 2018

After a narrow 1-0 win over Torino on the road on the first matchday, AS Roma will host Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico, hoping to clinch the first win over the Bergamo-based team at home since 2014. The Giallorossi, who had a pretty successful last season where they finished third in the league and featured in the Champions League semi-finals, are hopeful they can repeat the similar campaign after completing some major signings this summer. Bryan Cristante, Javier Pastore, and Steven Nzonzi have all arrived in the Italian capital after the departure of Radja Nainggolan, who joined Inter Milan, with the former Sevilla midfielder looking to make his debut against the Goddess. Apart from the aforementioned victory over the Bulls, Eusebio Di Francesco’s team also defeated Barcelona at the International Champions Cup, while failing against Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur. Meanwhile, the Black and Blues have opened the new Serie A campaign with an encouraging 4-0 win over Frosinone at home, but a disappointing 0-0 draw with FC Copenhagen in the first leg of the Europa League playoff round during the midweek has ruined Atalanta’s impressive start, ending their five-game winning streak.

The home side will enter the match at full strength following Diego Perotti’s return to full fitness, while Marco Varnier and Josip Ilicic should both skip the trip to Rome due to some physical problems.