Roma came into this game knowing that anything less than a win could realistically end their title hopes. Giallorossi boss Luciano Spalletti had almost a full squad to choose from, although he was without Marco Cassetti, who was suspended, and Ahmed Barusso, who was at the African Cup of Nations.
Atalanta were missing long-term casualties Talamonti, Costinha, Inzaghi, and Rivalta, as well as star man Cristiano Doni, who was suspended.
Atalanta started brightly and Morris Carrozzieri attempted a highly ambitious lob from the half-way line but it was easy for Alexander Doni.
Roma launched their first attack of the game on six minutes as Francesco Totti nutmegged his marker and cut the ball back for Simone Perrotta, who's shot from the edge of the box was deflected wide.
Amantino Mancini then demonstrated some nice footwork down the left and he crossed the ball to the near post for Perrotta, who headed over.
On 11 minutes Roma missed a glorious chance to take the lead. Perrotta launched a lightning-fast counter-attack and put Mancini clean through but Ferdinando Coppola raced off his line and made a fine save to deny the Brazilian. Atalanta players were furious that there was no offside flag but replays showed that the officials got it right.
Down the other end Atalanta had two chances within the space of 30 seconds to take the lead. First of all a dreadful Philippe Mexes error gifted the ball to Fernando Tissone, who was thwarted by a superb Doni save. From the resulting corner Carrozzieri thumped a header wide of the post.
The home supporters did not have to wait much longer to celebrate as Atalanta broke the deadlock on 17 minutes. Gianpaolo Bellini's cross from the left was somewhat fortuitously touched on into the path of Ferreira Pinto, who buried his finish past Doni.
Atalanta then launched another dangerous move, and Juan had to perform a crucial clearance from Antonio Langella's cross.
The Nerazzurri were winning the midfield battle and Tiberio Guarente stole the ball in midfield and unleashed an effort from 30 yards but it was straight at Doni.
Roma gradually started to work their way into the game and on 28 minutes Mancini missed his second gilt-edged chance of the match, volleying the ball over from just eight yards following a cross by Rodrigo Taddei.
Taddei then whipped in a ball from the right but Mexes was denied a chance by an incorrect offside flag.
Roma were really starting to dominate now and Perrotta could only fire the ball over after Coppola had fumbled a Mexes cross.
The Giallorossi found their equaliser on 38 minutes and it came courtesy of a fantastic free-kick by Francesco Totti. Er Pupone stepped up 20 yards out and thumped an unstoppable shot from 20 yards into the bottom corner of Coppola's net.
A minute before the break Roma completed a quite stunning turnaround by scoring again. Mancini picked up the ball on the left just inside the penalty area, cut inside and unleashed a thunderbolt of a shot which rocketed into the top corner of the net.
Roma started the second-half in authoritative fashion, and Daniele De Rossi curled a free-kick over the wall from 25 yards but it was too high.
Atalanta also tried their luck from a set-piece and Guarante smashed in a shot from the edge of the penalty area but it was straight at Doni.
The home side slowly started to work their way back into the match and on 59 minutes had a fine opportunity to score an equaliser as substitute Zlatan Muslimovic got onto the end of a long pass but could only direct his effort wide of Doni's post.
A couple of minutes later Perrotta had the ball in the back of the net after racing onto a Totti through-pass, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Replays showed that Perrotta was level with the last Atalanta defender Bellini and so the goal should have stood.
On 66 minutes Atalanta missed a glorious chance to equalise as Floccari raced clean through on goal, but selfishly fired the ball wide when he could have squared the ball to Ferreira Pinto. The Brazilian was furious to have been snubbed by his team-mate.
Atalanta were stepping up the pressure now and Muslimovic won the ball in the air and forced Doni into a fine save around the post. Soon after there was another great chance for the home side as the ball was smashed over the bar following a free kick.
On 76 minutes Floccari executed a superb control, turn and shot manoeuvre but Doni was equal to the Atalanta frontman and made the save at his near post.
The home side then missed another golden opportunity. Floccari flicked the ball on for Muslimovic, who was clean through but scuffed the ball horribly wide.
Atalanta threw everyone forward in the last 10 minutes and Roma nearly caught them twice in quick-succession on the counter-attack. First of all Perrotta hit an acrobatic volley over the bar from Christian Panucci's cross, before Mancini fired wide when presented with a promising opening.
These misses were of little consequence as Roma held on and started 2008 with a hard-earned victory.
Atalanta: Coppola, Belleri, Carrozzieri, Capelli, Bellini, De Ascentis (Muslimovic 46), Guarante (Defendi 77), Tissone, Langella (Padoin 64), Ferreira Pinto, Floccari
Roma: Doni, Panucci, Mexes, Juan, Tonetto, De Rossi, Pizarro (Aquilani 90), Perrotta (Brighi 84), Taddei, Mancini (Cicinho 88), Totti
Goals: Ferreira Pinto 17 (A), Totti 38 (R), Mancini 44 (R)
Atalanta were missing long-term casualties Talamonti, Costinha, Inzaghi, and Rivalta, as well as star man Cristiano Doni, who was suspended.
Atalanta started brightly and Morris Carrozzieri attempted a highly ambitious lob from the half-way line but it was easy for Alexander Doni.
Roma launched their first attack of the game on six minutes as Francesco Totti nutmegged his marker and cut the ball back for Simone Perrotta, who's shot from the edge of the box was deflected wide.
Amantino Mancini then demonstrated some nice footwork down the left and he crossed the ball to the near post for Perrotta, who headed over.
On 11 minutes Roma missed a glorious chance to take the lead. Perrotta launched a lightning-fast counter-attack and put Mancini clean through but Ferdinando Coppola raced off his line and made a fine save to deny the Brazilian. Atalanta players were furious that there was no offside flag but replays showed that the officials got it right.
Down the other end Atalanta had two chances within the space of 30 seconds to take the lead. First of all a dreadful Philippe Mexes error gifted the ball to Fernando Tissone, who was thwarted by a superb Doni save. From the resulting corner Carrozzieri thumped a header wide of the post.
The home supporters did not have to wait much longer to celebrate as Atalanta broke the deadlock on 17 minutes. Gianpaolo Bellini's cross from the left was somewhat fortuitously touched on into the path of Ferreira Pinto, who buried his finish past Doni.
Atalanta then launched another dangerous move, and Juan had to perform a crucial clearance from Antonio Langella's cross.
The Nerazzurri were winning the midfield battle and Tiberio Guarente stole the ball in midfield and unleashed an effort from 30 yards but it was straight at Doni.
Roma gradually started to work their way into the game and on 28 minutes Mancini missed his second gilt-edged chance of the match, volleying the ball over from just eight yards following a cross by Rodrigo Taddei.
Taddei then whipped in a ball from the right but Mexes was denied a chance by an incorrect offside flag.
Roma were really starting to dominate now and Perrotta could only fire the ball over after Coppola had fumbled a Mexes cross.
The Giallorossi found their equaliser on 38 minutes and it came courtesy of a fantastic free-kick by Francesco Totti. Er Pupone stepped up 20 yards out and thumped an unstoppable shot from 20 yards into the bottom corner of Coppola's net.
A minute before the break Roma completed a quite stunning turnaround by scoring again. Mancini picked up the ball on the left just inside the penalty area, cut inside and unleashed a thunderbolt of a shot which rocketed into the top corner of the net.
Roma started the second-half in authoritative fashion, and Daniele De Rossi curled a free-kick over the wall from 25 yards but it was too high.
Atalanta also tried their luck from a set-piece and Guarante smashed in a shot from the edge of the penalty area but it was straight at Doni.
The home side slowly started to work their way back into the match and on 59 minutes had a fine opportunity to score an equaliser as substitute Zlatan Muslimovic got onto the end of a long pass but could only direct his effort wide of Doni's post.
A couple of minutes later Perrotta had the ball in the back of the net after racing onto a Totti through-pass, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Replays showed that Perrotta was level with the last Atalanta defender Bellini and so the goal should have stood.
On 66 minutes Atalanta missed a glorious chance to equalise as Floccari raced clean through on goal, but selfishly fired the ball wide when he could have squared the ball to Ferreira Pinto. The Brazilian was furious to have been snubbed by his team-mate.
Atalanta were stepping up the pressure now and Muslimovic won the ball in the air and forced Doni into a fine save around the post. Soon after there was another great chance for the home side as the ball was smashed over the bar following a free kick.
On 76 minutes Floccari executed a superb control, turn and shot manoeuvre but Doni was equal to the Atalanta frontman and made the save at his near post.
The home side then missed another golden opportunity. Floccari flicked the ball on for Muslimovic, who was clean through but scuffed the ball horribly wide.
Atalanta threw everyone forward in the last 10 minutes and Roma nearly caught them twice in quick-succession on the counter-attack. First of all Perrotta hit an acrobatic volley over the bar from Christian Panucci's cross, before Mancini fired wide when presented with a promising opening.
These misses were of little consequence as Roma held on and started 2008 with a hard-earned victory.
Atalanta: Coppola, Belleri, Carrozzieri, Capelli, Bellini, De Ascentis (Muslimovic 46), Guarante (Defendi 77), Tissone, Langella (Padoin 64), Ferreira Pinto, Floccari
Roma: Doni, Panucci, Mexes, Juan, Tonetto, De Rossi, Pizarro (Aquilani 90), Perrotta (Brighi 84), Taddei, Mancini (Cicinho 88), Totti
Goals: Ferreira Pinto 17 (A), Totti 38 (R), Mancini 44 (R)
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