The battle for Champions League qualification in Serie A took another turn on Sunday. Atalanta Bergamo capitalized on the loss of points by Bologna and AS Roma.
It was indeed a challenging and pivotal week for AS Roma. The team faced a setback with a home defeat against Bologna on Monday, adding pressure to their subsequent fixture.
Managed by Daniele De Rossi, Roma found themselves in a tough spot during the remainder of their match against Udinese, which was played on Thursday due to a previous suspension when defender Evan Ndicka was injured. Thankfully, Ndicka’s injury was not severe, and he made a timely return against Napoli on Sunday. However, Roma's woes continued as they dropped more points in that encounter.
Meanwhile, Napoli managed to turn their fortunes around in their game. After falling behind, they leveled the score following a penalty from Paulo Dybala, a deflected shot by Mathias Olivera, and another penalty by Viktor Osimhen. The match saw a dramatic end when Tammy Abraham scored a late equalizer for the visiting team, ensuring that the battle for Champions League spots remains intensely competitive.
In a separate match, Bologna faced its challenges. Defender Sam Beukema, who has been a key player this season, unfortunately played a detrimental role by receiving two yellow cards in quick succession, reducing his team to ten men shortly after halftime. Despite the disadvantage, Bologna managed to salvage a draw, largely thanks to a stunning free-kick from Alexis Saelemaekers, which found the net off the underside of the crossbar, highlighting his critical role this season.
Atalanta, on the other hand, took advantage of the stumbles by Bologna and Roma. They secured a win with goals from Marko Pasalic and Ademola Lookman, which helped them close the gap in the race for the top spots. Key players like Marten de Roon, Teun Koopmeiners, and Hans Hateboer made significant contributions, with the latter two coming off the bench.
Atalanta's performance this season is a significant factor in Italy's strong showing in European competitions, which ensures that Serie A will have at least five teams in the next Champions League season. This expansion is part of a new format where 36 teams will compete, offering additional slots. Atalanta and Roma have been particularly instrumental, reaching the semifinals of the Europa League, while Fiorentina has made it to the semifinals of the Conference League. The potential for an Italian team to win the Europa League could even allow the Serie A's sixth-placed team to participate in the Champions League, showcasing the depth and competitiveness of Italian football this season.
