Giorgio Scalvini’s early strike proved decisive as Atalanta condemned Roma to defeat, spoiling Gian Piero Gasperini’s emotional return to Bergamo with three hard-earned points.
It was a poignant night at the Gewiss Stadium, marking Gasperini’s first visit as an opposing coach after nine transformative years with Atalanta.
Roma arrived short-handed, missing several key players due to injuries and international duty, while Atalanta were also without Ademola Lookman and Odilon Kossounou at AFCON, plus injured duo Raoul Bellanova and Mitchel Bakker.
Nicola Zalewski was pushed into a more advanced role, with Artem Dovbyk and Wesley only fit enough for the bench.
Roma threatened early when Paulo Dybala pounced on a loose Ederson back-pass and teed up Evan Ferguson. The striker was denied by Marco Carnesecchi, and Berat Djimsiti cleared the rebound off the line to spare Atalanta.
The hosts made the breakthrough in the 12th minute from a corner. Mile Svilar failed to deal with the delivery and Scalvini bundled the ball over the line from close range.
VAR conducted an extended review for a possible foul or handball, but the goal stood, with officials ruling that Devyne Rensch, not Scalvini, impeded the goalkeeper.
Zalewski later dragged a shot wide after a neat passing move involving Gianluca Scamacca and Ederson, before Atalanta were forced into an early change as Sead Kolasinac limped off with a knee injury.
Scamacca twice went close against his hometown club. He first fired wide after turning his marker, then headed in from six yards following a Bernasconi cross.
However, celebrations were cut short by another lengthy VAR check, which ruled the goal out for offside in the build-up, despite Roma’s defensive error initiating the move.
Scalvini remained influential, cutting out a dangerous Matias Soulé cross, while Manu Koné wasted the rebound. Before the break, Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso were both booked, earning suspensions for Roma’s midweek clash with Lecce.
Roma came out strongly after the interval and should have levelled when Ferguson produced a clever turn and half-volley, only for Carnesecchi to pull off a stunning one-handed save.
The Atalanta keeper was again alert to deny Soulé at the near post, while Djimsiti blocked Dybala’s close-range flick from a Wesley cut-back.
Atalanta carried threat on the counter, Bernasconi going close after his effort deflected wide, and Nikola Krstovic heading off target from a corner. In stoppage time, Mancini sent Dybala through on goal, but Carnesecchi raced off his line to smother, while Svilar made a late save at the other end to keep the scoreline respectable.
In the end, Scalvini’s goal was enough to settle an intense contest, as Atalanta held firm and Roma departed Bergamo empty-handed.
