Sarri: ‘Atalanta sat too deep, but Roma will challenge for the title’ | OneFootball

Maurizio Sarri admits Atalanta ‘sat too deep’ to defend their lead against Roma and were made to pay with a 2-1 defeat. ‘I think they’ll challenge for the title to the very end.’

La Dea went into this game having won both Serie A fixtures somewhat against the run of play, and came so close to doing it again at the Stadio Olimpico.

ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Gianluca Scamacca of Atalanta reacts with Manu Kone of Roma during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Atalanta BC at Stadio Olimpico on September 05, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Ederson had fired in at the dawn of the second half, with Marco Carnesecchi making decisive saves, and the woodwork twice denying Santiago Castro.

However, Roma secured all three points in added time thanks to a Mario Hermoso looping header and Matias Soulé low drive at the near post.

Sarri and Atalanta impressed by Roma

ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Ederson of Atalanta celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Atalanta BC at Stadio Olimpico on September 05, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

“The performance required a lot of suffering under pressure, but we were up against the form team in Serie A so far this season, who I think will challenge for the title to the very end,” Sarri told Sky Sport Italia.

“We knew it was going to be difficult, we held out under pressure, but then sat too deep in the final half-hour, perhaps we were running out of steam. We leave here glad that we caused problems to the very end for a Roma side that really impressed me.”

You can check the Football Italia Player Ratings for Roma 2-1 Atalanta

Once Roma got the equaliser, they poured forward and managed to turn the game around within three minutes.

“If you sit too deep against a team with this quality, you are going to suffer, and unfortunately we paid the price for that. We believe that we are improving, but Roma are currently a step above.”

ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Nikola Krstovic of Atalanta is challenged by Evan Ndicka of Roma during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Atalanta BC at Stadio Olimpico on September 05, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Atalanta did have the opportunities to double their lead on the counter-attack, but did not bring on new signing Jonathan Rowe for his debut.

“Unfortunately, we were left with the last two substitute slots and needed them for players who simply couldn’t reach the end. We had to use up the changes, but these things can happen during a game,” explained Sarri.

ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Mario Hermoso of Roma celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Atalanta BC at Stadio Olimpico on September 05, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

There was tension after the final whistle, and Gianluca Gaetano appeared to receive a red card for dissent, so will be suspended next week against Cagliari.

“Gaetano didn’t say anything to the referee, that’s what I was told, so I think the referee confused him with someone else. Everyone around him said it was an error from the referee and he said nothing,” insisted the coach.