In a pivotal clash from Serie A Round 36 of the 2024/25 season, Atalanta claimed a crucial 2-1 home win over fellow top-four contender AS Roma. The victory snapped Roma’s impressive 19-game unbeaten streak and saw Atalanta secure a Champions League spot with two games to spare. Remarkably, Atalanta became the only team this season to complete a league double over Roma, further cementing their reputation as one of the most consistent sides in Italy.
With the win, Atalanta moves up to 71 points and sits comfortably in third place. Napoli and Inter Milan have also locked in their Champions League berths. This leaves just one spot up for grabs, with Roma now sitting sixth on 66 points, just one behind Juventus and Lazio, who are currently fourth and fifth, respectively.
Lookman Seals the Win, VAR Drama Denies Roma
Atalanta wasted no time asserting dominance. In the 9th minute, Charles De Ketelaere threaded a brilliant through ball to Ademola Lookman, who turned and fired home from the left side of the box to make it 1-0.
Roma responded in the 32nd minute through a well-worked move. Matías Soulé lifted a pinpoint cross into the area, where Bryan Cristante met it with a firm header to level the score.
A dramatic moment unfolded in the 63rd minute when Mario Pasalic brought Roma’s Manu Koné inside the box. The referee initially pointed to the spot and awarded a penalty. However, after a lengthy VAR review, the decision was overturned, and no penalty was given.
The winner came in the 75th minute. Lookman cut inside near the edge of the box and fired a low shot, narrowly missing the post. Shortly after, Roma were awarded a free-kick on the right flank, but Soulé’s direct effort flew over the bar. Atalanta held onto their 2-1 lead until the final whistle.
Champions League Race Heats: Atalanta Book Their Ticket
This win guarantees Atalanta a top-four finish and a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2020. It’s a reward for coach Gian Piero Gasperini’s commitment to attacking football and tactical innovation.
For Roma, it was a heartbreaking end to their record-breaking run. Under veteran coach Claudio Ranieri, back for his third stint at the club, Roma had climbed from the relegation zone to the edges of the top four. This was their first league defeat since December 15, when they lost 2-0 away to Como. With that loss, Roma also gave up the title of the last unbeaten team across Europe’s top five leagues. Only Barcelona in La Liga remain unbeaten in 2025.
Venezia Escape Drop Zone with Crucial Win
In another vital match on Sunday, relegation-battling Venezia secured a massive 2-1 home win over Fiorentina. The result lifts Venezia to 17th place with 29 points, just ahead of Lecce and Empoli, who sit 18th and 19th respectively, on 28 points. The race for survival remains wide open heading into the final two rounds.
Fiorentina, meanwhile, is still 9th with 59 points and is now drifting further away from the European qualification places. Their hopes of returning to continental competition next season are quickly fading.
