Roma vs Atalanta Serie A 2026/27: Match Preview, Team News, Lineups and Prediction
Match Information
Match: AS Roma vs Atalanta BC
Competition: Serie A 2026/27
Date: Saturday, 5 September 2026
Kick-off: 20:45 CEST
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Matchday: 3
First meeting of the 2026/27 Serie A season
Previous meeting: Roma 1-1 Atalanta
Roma welcome Atalanta to the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday evening for one of the most interesting fixtures of the third Serie A matchday.
Both clubs has made perfect starts to the new campaign, although they have arrived at this contest in very different ways. Roma have scored eight goals and conceded none across their opening two league matches, while Atalanta have collected six points from two considerably tighter games.
There is also an intriguing managerial subplot. Roma are now led by Gian Piero Gasperini, the coach who spent many successful years in charge of Atalanta. Meanwhile, Atalanta have entered a new era under Maurizio Sarri.
The meeting therefore offers an early opportunity to assess how two teams with contrasting tactical identities compare at this stage of the season.
Where to Watch
In Italy, Roma vs Atalanta is scheduled to be available through Sky Sport, with the match also available for streaming through NOW.
Kick-off is scheduled for 20:45 CEST on Saturday, September 5.
Supporters watching from outside Italy should check their local Serie A broadcaster because television and streaming rights differ from country to country.
Match Preview
Roma could not have made a much stronger start to the Serie A campaign.
Gasperini's team opened a season with a 4-0 home victory over Fiorentina before producing another 4-0 win away against Lecce. The results have immediately placed Roma among the early leaders, but the performances have been just as encouraging as the results.
The victory agains Fiorentina was particularly impressive from an attacking standpoint. Roma controlled 61% of possession, registered 17 attempts and generated approximately 3.07 expected goals. Fiorentina, by comparison, managed an xG figure of only around 0.35.
Roma also recorded 41 touchec inside the opposition penalty area, underlining how frequently they were able to move the ball into dangerous positions.
The trip to Lecce produced another four-goal performance. Donyell Malen scored twice, while Matias Soule and Rodrigo Mora also found the net.
That gives Roma eight goals from their opening two league matches without conceding a single goal. It is an outstanding start, although Atalanta should provide a much more demanding test than either of their first two opponents.
Atalanta have also won both of thier matches so far. They began with a 2-1 victory over Sassuolo and followed that with a narrow 1-0 success against Bologna.
The Bologna matsh showed different side of the Bergamo club. Atalanta had only 42% possession but managed to restrict Bologna's opportunities effectively enough to protect their lead.
Their opening two matches suggest that Sarri is still developing the team's attacking patterns, but the early results demonstrate that Atalanta already possess enough organisation and experience to win difficult games.
The challenge in Rome will be considerably greater.
Roma are currently playing with enormous confidence, and the Olimpico should provide Gasperini's team with an energetic home environment. Atalanta, however, have enjoyed recent success in this fixture and will not be intimidated by Roma's excellent start.
The last meeting between the sides in Rome ended 1-1 in April 2026, while Atalanta won the previous meeting in Bergamo 1-0 in January.
Tactical Breakdown
Roma are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, although their shape changes considerably depending on possession.
The three central defenders provide the foundation, allowing the wing-backs to advance and give Roma width. In midfield, the team attempts to dominate territory while the attacking midfielders search for pockets of space behind the opposition's midfield line.
Dybala's ability to receive between the lines remains particularly important. His movement can draw defenders out of position and create openings for runners from midfield or the opposite side of the attack.
Malen has also quickly become an important attacking weapon. His movement gives Roma greater depth and allows the home side to threaten behind the defensive line instead of relying entirely on possession in front of the opposition.
Without the ball, Roma are likely to remain aggressive. Gasperini's teams traditionally look to press opponents early, force hurried passes and attack immediately after winning possession.
That approach could cause problems for Atalanta if Sarri's side attempts to build patiently from the back.
Atalanta's tactical structure should look different under Sarri. The Italian coach traditionally favours controlled possession, structured passing sequences and a coordinated press after losing the ball.
Analysis
The statistical picture gives Roma the advantage heading into the game.
After two matches, Roma are averaging four goals per game and have produced a strong possession profile. Their opening victory over Fiorentina demonstrated both territorial dominance and chance creation.
The most encouraging element for Roma is that their goals have not come from a small number of fortunate opportunities. The team has consistently reached dangerous areas and created multiple chances.
Their defensive record is equally impressive. Roma have yet to concede in Serie A this season, although keeping another clean sheet against Atalanta would be a significant achievement.
Atalanta's numbers are less spectacular but their six-point return cannot be ignored.
Their 2-1 victory over Sassuolo and 1-0 win against Bologna show a team capable of managing close matches. They have not needed to dominate possession or score several goals to collect maximum points.
That difference could shape Saturday's contest.
Roma are likely to want a fast, high-intensity match in which they can maintain pressure and create repeated attacking situations. Atalanta may prefer to make the game more controlled and force Roma to work patiently for openings.
The home advantage also gives Roma another edge. The Olimpico should be lively for a match involving two clubs that have started the season perfectly.
There is, however, one major reason not to underestimate Atalanta: recent head-to-head results.
Atalanta have avoided defeat in the last three league meetings, winning twice and drawing once. Roma therefore know that their excellent early-season statistics will be tested against an opponent that has recently caused them problems.
Team News
Roma's defensive selection will be worth watching before kick-off.
Evan Ndicka was a concern before the Lecce match after withdrawing with an adductor problem, although subsequent reports indicated that medical examinations did not identify a significant muscle injury.
Devyne Rensch has also been reported among the players unavailable to Roma.
Leonardo Balerdi is expected to be considered for a starting position, with current predicted lineups suggesting that he could form part of a back three alongside Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso.
A possible Roma starting XI is:
Svilar; Mancini, Balerdi, Hermoso; Molina, Kone, Cristante, Wesley; Dybala, Mora; Malen.
For Atalanta, defensive availability is another area to monitor. Isak Hien and Thomas Kristensen have been reported as unavailable or doubtful, while Kamaldeen Sulemana has also been dealing with an injury issue.
A possible Atalanta lineup is:
Carnesecchi; Zappacosta, Kossounou, Scalvini, Bernasconi; Ederson, Gaetano, Samardzic; De Ketelaere, Scamacca, Rowe.
These lineups are predictions rather than confirmed selections. The official team sheets released shortly before kick-off will provide the definitive answer.
There are not expected to be major suspension problems affecting either side for this match.
Head-to-Head
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Roma and Atalanta have a long competitive history, with Roma holding the stronger overall record across the historical meetings recorded by FBref.
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The most recent meeting at the Stadio Olimpico ended in a 1-1 draw in April 2026.
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Atalanta won the previous encounter in Bergamo 1-0 in January 2026.
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Atalanta also won 2-0 away to Roma in December 2024, highlighting their recent ability to perform effectively at the Olimpico.
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Roma's most recent Serie A home victory over Atalanta came in March 2022, when they won 1-0.
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The fixture has produced several high-scoring encounters in the past, including Atalanta's 4-1 victory in 2020 and Roma's 4-1 win in Bergamo in 2021.
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Recent meetings have generally been much tighter, with the last three Serie A encounters producing two Atalanta victories and one draw.
Prediction
Roma enter this match with the stronger momentum.
Two 4-0 victories, eight goals scored and zero conceded represent an almost perfect beginning to Gasperini's Roma project. More importantly, the underlying performance against Fiorentina suggested that the attacking numbers were supported by genuine chance creation and territorial control.
Atalanta should provide a much more complicated tactical challenge.
Sarri's side have already demonstrated that they can win without dominating possession, and their recent record against Roma gives them additional confidence. Atalanta also have enough technical quality to punish Roma if the home side commits too many players forward.
The central question is whether Roma can maintain their current attacking rhythm against a defence that is likely to sit more compactly and attempt to disrupt their combinations.
If Roma score early, the game could become particularly difficult for Atalanta because Gasperini's team are dangerous when opponents are forced to chase the match.
If Atalanta keep the score level into the second half, however, their experience and tactical discipline could make the contest extremely close.
Roma's home advantage, attacking form and early defensive record ultimately make them the slightly stronger choice.
The prediction is therefore:
Roma 2-1 Atalanta
Atalanta should find a way to test Roma's defence, but the home side's attacking momentum looks difficult to ignore. Dybala's creativity, Malen's movement and Roma's ability to generate pressure in the final third could be decisive.
A Roma victory would maintain their perfect start and provide an early indication that Gasperini's new team can compete at the top end of Serie A.
Final prediction: Roma 2-1 Atalanta.
