Atalanta vs Roma Predictions

• This game has been labelled a Champions League play-off because both teams are on 60 points and vying for fifth place
• Atalanta, who have a game in hand, have lost only one of their last 10 home league games
• Roma are undefeated in their last seven away Serie A matches with three draws in their last four on the road

Atalanta arrive in better shape than Roma

Just like last year, Atalanta and Roma are vying for the last available Champions League spot in Serie A and this Sunday’s clash at Gewiss Stadium will be crucial in deciding it.

But unlike the clash in late April of last season, Atalanta arrive having just clinched a huge Europa League win while Roma are experiencing the pain of a semi-final elimination.

Despite Roma carrying the better form into that affair, Atalanta still won to close the gap to the Giallorossi in fourth although ultimately both clubs lost out to Inter Milan’s last-season charge.

Draw would prolong Champions League race 

How Daniele De Rossi’s side react to their two-legged defeat to Bayer Leverkusen will determine how the rest of this campaign goes for them and, unlike Atalanta, all their eggs are now in the Serie A basket.

La Dea played superbly to beat Marseille 3-0 on Thursday and coach Gian Piero Gasperini was even able to rotate and rest a few starters with one eye on this weekend’s clash. It is hard to see past an Atalanta win given how the midweek matches panned out, but squint hard enough and you can see a draw.

A stalemate makes the race for fifth place very interesting as it would be the second draw between the teams this season and head-to-head results and goal difference are the first two tiebreakers. There is still plenty of football to be played in the nest few weeks, but a draw would keep things bubbling along nicely and Roma may deem it to be a half-decent result in the circumstances.