AS Roma vs Atalanta: Tactical Analysis of 1–1 Draw in Serie A
AS Roma and Atalanta shared a 1–1 draw at the Stadio Olimpico in Serie A’s Regular Season - 33, a match that evolved from Atalanta’s early incision into a controlled Roma siege. Nikola Krstović’s 12' opener, cancelled out by Mario Hermoso at 45', framed a contest where Roma’s structure, volume of shots, and territorial control were clear, but the finishing edge and final-third clarity never fully matched their dominance. Atalanta, reshaped heavily at half-time by Raffaele Palladino, accepted a lower share of the ball and leaned on compactness and penalty-box resilience to protect the point.
The scoring opened on 12' with Atalanta exploiting the symmetry of the 3-4-2-1 mirror. From midfield, Marten de Roon found space to play forward, and Nikola Krstović finished the move clinically for 0–1. Roma’s equaliser arrived at 45', a product of sustained pressure and set-piece or second-phase dominance: centre-back Mario Hermoso stepped up to level, assisted by right-sided midfielder Devyne Rensch. That goal fixed the half-time score at 1–1, reflecting Roma’s growing control after the early setback.
Second Half
The second half was defined by a flurry of substitutions and a tightening disciplinary tone. Immediately after the restart at 46', Atalanta executed a triple defensive and structural reset: Honest Ahanor (IN) came on for Sead Kolasinac (OUT), Odilon Kossounou (IN) came on for Giorgio Scalvini (OUT), and Nicola Zalewski (IN) came on for Charles De Ketelaere (OUT). At 54', Lorenzo Bernasconi (IN) replaced Raoul Bellanova (OUT), further refreshing the wing-back line.
Roma’s response came on 60', with three simultaneous changes that subtly altered their midfield and attacking profiles: Daniele Ghilardi (IN) came on for Gianluca Mancini (OUT), Niccolò Pisilli (IN) came on for Neil El Aynaoui (OUT), and Lorenzo Venturino (IN) came on for Stephan El Shaarawy (OUT). The game’s first card arrived at 65', when Éderson was booked for a foul, signalling Atalanta’s increasing reliance on disruption.
On 71', Roma added more verticality and dribbling threat as Robinio Vaz (IN) came on for Matías Soulé (OUT). Ten minutes later, the home side’s only booking was shown: at 75', Niccolò Pisilli received a yellow card for a foul, reflecting his aggressive attempt to energise Roma’s pressing from midfield. At 78', Konstantinos Tsimikas (IN) replaced Devyne Rensch (OUT), shifting Roma’s left-sided dynamic and crossing angles.
Atalanta’s final adjustment came at 80', with Mario Pašalić (IN) replacing Éderson (OUT), adding late-running and experience in midfield. The last disciplinary note fell at 90+1', when Berat Djimsiti was cautioned for a foul, emblematic of Atalanta’s last-ditch defending under sustained late pressure. The match closed at 1–1, with no further goals after Hermoso’s first-half equaliser.
Tactical Analysis
Tactically, both sides started in a 3-4-2-1, but the structures behaved very differently. Roma, under Piero Gasperini Gian, used the back three of Evan Ndicka, Hermoso, and Gianluca Mancini as a platform to dominate possession (53%) and build patiently. Wing-backs Zeki Çelik and Devyne Rensch pushed high, effectively forming a 3-2-5 in settled attack, with Bryan Cristante and Neil El Aynaoui anchoring central zones. The front three of Matías Soulé, Stephan El Shaarawy, and Donyell Malen constantly rotated, with Malen often pinning the back line and Soulé drifting inside to overload half-spaces.
This structure underpinned Roma’s shot volume: 19 total shots, 9 on target, with 15 from inside the box. The xG of 0.9 suggests many of those efforts were from less-than-ideal angles or under pressure, but the pattern is clear: Roma compressed the game into Atalanta’s defensive third. The wide overloads and second-ball recoveries around the box forced Atalanta to defend deep and narrow, particularly after half-time.
Atalanta’s 3-4-2-1, with Giorgio Scalvini, Berat Djimsiti, and Sead Kolasinac initially at the back, morphed into a more reactive 5-4-1 for long stretches. Wing-backs Raoul Bellanova and Davide Zappacosta were pinned by Roma’s wide players and had limited licence to break. In possession, Atalanta were more direct, using Charles De Ketelaere and Giacomo Raspadori between lines to connect quickly to Krstović. The early goal validated this approach, but as Roma’s press settled, Atalanta’s attacks became more sporadic: only 8 total shots, 2 on target, with just 2 from inside the box.
The half-time triple substitution was a clear tactical statement from Palladino. Honest Ahanor and Odilon Kossounou added fresh legs and recovery pace in the back line, while Nicola Zalewski offered more defensive work and transition running than De Ketelaere. The cumulative effect was to lower Atalanta’s attacking ceiling but significantly raise their Defensive Index: they absorbed pressure, committed more fouls (14 to Roma’s 4), and relied on blocks and clearances to protect their box.
In goal, the contrast was sharp. Mile Svilar faced only 2 shots on target, making 1 save, with Atalanta’s xG at 0.68 and no goals prevented beyond expectation. Roma’s defensive structure in front of him limited high-quality chances after the early goal. At the other end, Marco Carnesecchi was far busier: 9 Roma shots on target forced him into 8 saves. With Roma’s xG at 0.9 and “goals prevented” at 0, the data suggests he conceded roughly what was expected but had to manage a constant stream of manageable, if not elite, chances. His workload underlined Atalanta’s late-game identity: low possession (47%), but a high defensive output.
Statistically, Roma’s Overall Form in this match was that of a proactive, front-foot side: more possession, higher pass volume (535 to 491), and better pass accuracy (86% to 80%). Their attacking structure produced volume rather than clear-cut chances, aligning with an xG of 0.9 for a single goal. Atalanta’s Overall Form was more conservative and opportunistic: fewer shots, more fouls, and a readiness to sacrifice territory.
Disciplinary totals were precise: Roma finished with 1 yellow card (Pisilli 75'), Atalanta with 2 (Éderson 65', Djimsiti 90+1'), and no reds for either side. The Defensive Index leans towards Atalanta in terms of pure box defence and resilience, but Roma’s control of territory and shot suppression after going behind points to a robust defensive structure of their own. The 1–1 draw, in data and in tactics, reflects a Roma side that imposed the game and an Atalanta side that maximised an early lead and then dug in to preserve it.
