Now it's official: Roma have a draw. The fourth consecutive "no contest" maintains the unbeaten season, but further distances the top of the standings, now three points away. Beyond the 1-1 final, however, the Giallorossi showed that they are in good shape, and that they can still play for the top. Maybe not for the Scudetto, but the Champions League is a goal within the reach of Garcia and his gods. That with a little more malice sills they could really raise the bar, but on the other hand, nobody is perfect. Roma find it too difficult to score, partly due to bad luck (yesterday it was the turn of Consigli to be the hero), partly due to the effective structural limits of the squad. Totti's absence is heavy, but perhaps the club could have better strengthened the attack in the transfer market, also in light of the captain's 37 years. In the absence of anything else (yesterday Borriello wasn't there and Destro isn't ready yet), Garcia is forced to invent an advanced department with Gervinho, Florenzi and Marquinho. No first striker, with the associated advantages and disadvantages of the case. Atalanta are also a tough team, especially at home, and fight for every ball as if there were no tomorrow, then ready to strike at the right moment. Which arrives in the 50th minute, when an apparently harmless free-kick by Brivio mockingly bounces in front of De Sanctis and slips into the net. Garcia revolutionizes Roma by inserting Pjanic and Ljajic, and the results are visible. The Giallorossi pressed and built goals in series, on which Consigli surpassed himself (the save on Florenzi in particular was splendid). However, in the 90th minute, when the unbeaten run seems to be a thing of the past, Strootman's equalizer arrives, making the most of Ljajic's personal action. It ends 1-1, with Roma minus three behind Juve and plus six over Napoli.
But he still has to play. In fact, the 14th Serie A match will end today with two anomalous postponements: Fiorentina-Verona at 19pm and Lazio-Naples at 21pm. Important matches for the top standings, because the Viola could hook Inter and relaunch themselves in the Champions League, and the blues shorten the distances that separate them from Rome. Conversely, a negative result against Lazio (which needs points) would give a very strong blow to Benitez's ambitions, already with one foot outside the Champions League. "Clearly we are not satisfied with the latest results, but Dortmund's reaction after the match against Parma was positive" explained the Spaniard, under scrutiny for the first time. “This is the beginning of a journey – he continued at the press conference. – We have to carry forward our idea of football, the most important thing is to inculcate a winning mentality. The project is long-term, there may be some defeats”. Don Rafè, who will still have to do without Hamsik, ponders confirming Insigne from the first minute in place of Mertens. Very confirmed Higuain and Callejon, the doubts concern the defense: Britos and Fernandez are playing for a shirt, as well as Armero and Reveillere. On the Lazio front, after the victory in Warsaw, there is a desire to win again in the league. Petkovic, in the odor of the Swiss national team (but yesterday the coach swore allegiance to Lotito), should recover Klose, candidate for a starting shirt in the trident with Candreva and Lulic.
