As part of their run for the Top-5, it’s now turn for Atalanta to host their direct contenders in the race for a Champions League spot.
What was the time gap between Pellegrini and Koopmeiner’s goals last season?
Once again embroiled in a scramble to a European spot Atalanta and Roma traded blows on MD31 of the 2022/23 season. Minute 39 of the game: after tailing Abraham well past the midfield line, Scalvini snatched the ball before playing on to Zapata, who shrugged off this marker before playing on to Pašalić, who finished with a jaw-dropping volley finish. The Nerazzurri doubled their lead on 74 minutes through Captain Toloi, who slotted the rebound in after Palomino’s header to nullify Rui Patricio’s great save. Although the Capitol team found its hopes vindicated as Pellegrini pulled one back with a powerful ranged finish from the edge of the box; it was Koopmeiners who burst the giallorosso bubble but a minute later by capitalizing on Rui Patricio’s blunder. 44 seconds: that’s the time gap between Pellegrini (who clocked in on 82 minutes and 36 seconds) and Koopmeiners’ goals -with the latter etching his name on the scoreboard just 20 seconds past the 83rd minute.
When did Atalanta last face Roma after a mid-season change on the sidelines for the Giallorossi?
After José Mourinho, it’s now Daniele De Rossi’s turn to face Atalanta from the sidelines: on Sunday the Nerazzurri welcome Roma after their mid-season tactical change in the saddle. The last time this happened was in the 2015/2016 season: while first leg 0-2 win at the Olimpico stadium had an unmistakable Argentinian taste to it courtesy of Papu Gomez and El Tanque Denis’ spot-kick goal; the return game was an authentic no-holds-barred 3-3 goal galore: after Roma took the lead and doubled it through Digne and Nainggolan, the Nerazzurri truly knew how to turn the tables by exacting the ex’s law with D’Alessandro and Borriello (who scored a brace) before Totti brought the game in the final 3-3 balance in the closing minutes. While the first leg saw Rudi Garcia on the sidelines, Luciano Spalletti sat at Roma’s helm in the return game.
Is it the first MD36 matchup between the two teams?
With Atalanta and Roma never crossing swords on MD36 before. As such, with the Nerazzurri and Giallorossi having in fact traded blows three times on MD37, twice on Week 34 and a whopping 7 times on Matchday 33; Sunday’s clash will serve as a true historic first.
