Two perfect Serie A records collide at the Stadio Olimpico as Gian Piero Gasperini’s free-scoring Roma welcome Maurizio Sarri’s Atalanta.
Roma face their first major test of the 2026/27 Serie A season when Atalanta visit the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday evening.
Both sides enter Matchday 3 with six points from their opening two fixtures. Roma have produced consecutive 4-0 victories, while Atalanta have defeated Sassuolo and Bologna to begin Maurizio Sarri’s tenure with a perfect league record.
Gian Piero Gasperini will now face his former club in an early-season contest capable of providing a clearer indication of Roma’s progress.
Roma vs Atalanta Match Information
Competition: Serie A, Matchday 3
Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026
Kickoff: 8:45 PM CEST / 2:45 PM ET
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Referee: Andrea Colombo
VAR: Giacomo Camplone
Colombo will be assisted by Khaled Bahri and Domenico Palermo, with Giuseppe Collu serving as the fourth official. Alberto Santoro has been appointed as the assistant VAR.
Roma Enter Atalanta Test in Outstanding Form
Roma could hardly have started their season more convincingly.
The Giallorossi opened with a 4-0 victory over Fiorentina before producing the same scoreline away to Lecce. Gasperini’s team have therefore scored eight goals without conceding through their opening 180 minutes.
Donyell Malen has led the attack with five goals, including a hat-trick against Fiorentina and a brace at the Via del Mare. Paulo Dybala has supplied the creativity around him, while Matías Soulé, Rodrigo Mora and Niccolò Pisilli have also contributed goals.
Mora opened his Serie A account during the dominant victory over Lecce, further increasing the competition for places behind Malen.
The opening results have generated excitement, but Atalanta should provide a significantly more difficult examination of Roma’s defensive structure and ability to play through pressure.
Atalanta Arrive With a Perfect Record
Atalanta have also taken maximum points from their first two matches under Sarri.
The Nerazzurri began their campaign with a 2-1 home victory over Sassuolo. Giacomo Raspadori and Nikola Krstović scored the goals in that win.
Atalanta then defeated Bologna 1-0 through Lazar Samardžić’s dramatic 96th-minute strike. The late winner took Sarri’s team to six points and demonstrated their ability to remain patient in a tight contest.
Their three goals have been shared by three different players, while the clean sheet against Bologna underlined the defensive improvements Sarri is attempting to introduce.
Atalanta are also unbeaten in their last eight Serie A meetings with Roma. The most recent encounter finished 1-1 at the Olimpico in April, with Mario Hermoso responding after Krstović had opened the scoring.
Roma Team News
Evan Ndicka’s availability remains one of Gasperini’s primary decisions.
The defender withdrew during the warmup before the Lecce match because of discomfort in his right adductor. Subsequent examinations revealed inflammation but no muscular lesion, and Ndicka has since returned to partial group training.
Roma will not take unnecessary risks if he is not completely ready. Daniele Ghilardi replaced him against Lecce and produced an assured performance on the right side of the back three, with Gianluca Mancini moving into the central position.
Lorenzo Pellegrini and Devyne Rensch have resumed training with the squad after their respective injuries. Their progress represents another positive development, although their fitness levels will determine whether they are ready to receive call-ups.
Nahuel Molina is approaching full fitness and could make his first Roma start. Gasperini recently suggested that the Argentine may often be used on the left, allowing him to cut inside onto his stronger right foot.
Paulo Dybala’s condition will also be assessed before the final lineup is selected. Soulé and Mora are both available if Gasperini decides to rotate one of his attacking midfielders.
Atalanta Team News
Thomas Kristensen has returned to full training after recovering from the ankle injury that kept him out of Atalanta’s opening matches.
The Danish defender is expected to receive a call-up but could initially remain on the bench as Sarri avoids rushing him back into the starting lineup.
Isak Hien and Kamaldeen Sulemana remain unavailable. Both players continued receiving treatment during Atalanta’s preparations for the trip to Rome.
Samardžić is pushing for a starting role after scoring the winner against Bologna. Sarri must decide whether to reward him with a place in midfield or retain Mario Pašalić.
Raspadori and new signing Jonathan Rowe are also competing for an attacking position alongside Charles De Ketelaere and Gianluca Scamacca.
Gasperini Faces His Former Club
The match carries additional significance for Gasperini, whose long and successful relationship with Atalanta transformed both the club and his own career.
The Roma coach spent nine seasons in Bergamo, qualifying repeatedly for Europe and leading Atalanta to Europa League glory.
He is not the only recent Atalanta figure preparing for a reunion. Marten de Roon left Bergamo to join Roma at the end of the transfer window and could make his first appearance at the Olimpico in Giallorossi colours.
De Roon’s experience may become valuable if Roma need greater control or defensive intensity in midfield during the second half.
The Tactical Battle
The match should offer a fascinating contrast between Gasperini’s aggressive man-oriented approach and Sarri’s structured positional football.
Roma will attempt to disrupt Atalanta’s buildup and force turnovers close to the visitors’ penalty area. Malen’s speed and direct movement could become especially dangerous if Atalanta leave space behind their defensive line.
Dybala and Mora will look to receive the ball between Atalanta’s midfield and defence. Their ability to turn under pressure and release Malen may determine how frequently Roma can attack the goal before Sarri’s side reorganize.
Atalanta will attempt to move Roma’s defensive structure through short combinations before finding their wide players or attacking the space around the outside centre-backs.
The wing-back areas could be decisive. Wesley’s pace on the left provides Roma with a direct attacking outlet, while Molina or Emanuele Lulli will need to balance their forward runs with the threat posed by Atalanta’s wide attackers.
In midfield, Manu Koné and Bryan Cristante must prevent Atalanta from controlling the tempo. Koné’s ability to carry possession through pressure could help Roma escape Sarri’s press and immediately attack an unsettled defence.
Roma’s Predicted Lineup
Roma (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Ghilardi, Mancini, Hermoso; Lulli, Koné, Cristante, Wesley; Mora, Dybala; Malen.
Gasperini could retain Ghilardi after his performance in Lecce, particularly if Ndicka is not considered ready to start.
Molina is pushing Lulli for the position on the right, while Soulé remains the leading alternative to Mora or Dybala behind Malen.
Leonardo Balerdi, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Santiago Castro and De Roon give Gasperini several experienced options from the bench.
Atalanta’s Predicted Lineup
Atalanta (4-3-3): Carnesecchi; Zappacosta, Kossounou, Scalvini, Bernasconi; Samardžić, Gaetano, Éderson; De Ketelaere, Scamacca, Raspadori.
Samardžić’s decisive contribution against Bologna may earn him a starting position, although Pašalić and Eljif Elmas are alternative midfield options.
Rowe and Krstović could also enter Sarri’s considerations for the attacking line.
Players to Watch
Donyell Malen
Malen is the most in-form player in Serie A after scoring five times in two appearances.
His movement has transformed Roma’s attack, while Gasperini’s decision to move him closer to goal has maximized his finishing ability. Atalanta cannot afford to give him space between or behind their centre-backs.
Paulo Dybala
Dybala remains Roma’s most important creative player.
His understanding with Malen was particularly evident against Fiorentina, when the Argentine created all three of the Dutchman’s goals. If Atalanta press too aggressively, one pass from Dybala could release Malen into open space.
Lazar Samardžić
Samardžić enters the match after scoring Atalanta’s late winner against Bologna.
His technical quality and ability to shoot from distance could pose a danger if Roma allow him to receive possession near the edge of the penalty area.
Gianluca Scamacca
Scamacca gives Atalanta a focal point capable of holding up possession, combining with the players around him and challenging Roma’s defenders physically.
His battle with Mancini could become one of the match’s most important individual contests.
How to Watch Roma vs Atalanta in North America
Supporters in the United States should be able to watch the match through Paramount+, the primary home of Serie A coverage.
In Canada, the match is listed on Fubo and TLN, with the latter providing selected Serie A broadcasts in Italian.
Broadcast schedules can change, so viewers should confirm availability through their local provider before kickoff.
Roma vs Atalanta Prediction
Atalanta possess enough quality and tactical organization to make this Roma’s most challenging match of the new season.
Sarri’s team have conceded only once and will arrive in Rome with confidence after winning their opening two matches. Atalanta’s recent unbeaten record against Roma should also prevent the Giallorossi from underestimating the visitors.
Roma, however, are playing with greater speed, confidence and attacking precision. Malen’s form gives Gasperini a decisive weapon, while the depth provided by Mora, Soulé, Castro and Dybala offers several ways to change the match.
Prediction: Roma 2-1 Atalanta
Leave a Reply