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Roma pulled off a remarkable comeback with two goals in stoppage time to defeat Atalanta 2-1, as Mario Hermoso and Matias Soulé kept up their flawless start to the season.

Gian Piero Gasperini came up against his former club after an ideal opening to the campaign, having beaten both Fiorentina and Lecce 4-0, with Donyell Malen scoring five goals across those games. Paulo Dybala and Evan Ndicka recovered from muscular problems in time to start, with only Lorenzo Pellegrini unavailable, while Emanuele Lulli was once again chosen ahead of Nahuel Molina. La Dea had also won both of their Serie A fixtures, but with Kamaldeen Sulemana and Isak Hien injured, deadline-day arrivals Jonathan Rowe and Franck Kessié were named on the bench.

Roma’s previous win over Atalanta had been a 1-0 result in March 2022, followed by two draws in the next eight meetings before this match.

Roma players posed for the team photograph before the Serie A match against Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, on 5 September 2026.

After 14 minutes, Gianluca Mancini looked certain to score with a free header at the back post, but Marco Carnesecchi produced a superb save, clawing the ball away almost from on the line.

Carnesecchi then made another difficult stop to turn Bryan Cristante’s header around the post. From the resulting corner, Ndicka found the net, but he was in an offside position.

Rodrigo Mora fired wide from the edge of the area, while Mile Svilar comfortably dealt with a quick effort from Gianluca Scamacca.

Roma controlled the first half, with Malen cutting inside beyond a defender and forcing another awkward save from Carnesecchi, but they were unable to turn their superiority into a goal.

Donyell Malen of Roma gestures during the Serie A match between Roma and Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, on 5 September 2026.

Instead, Atalanta went ahead immediately after the restart. Charles De Ketelaere brushed off Mario Hermoso and pulled the ball back, and after Roma failed to clear properly, Ederson smashed the loose ball in from 14 yards. It was the first goal Roma had conceded this season.

Carnesecchi had to come up big again to keep out a fierce Manu Koné strike from the edge of the box following a corner routine, and then Lazar Samardzic turned wide after a Raoul Bellanova counter-attack.

Atalanta should have made it 2-0 when Nikola Krstovic got past Mancini and forced Svilar out, but he bent his finish inches wide with the net left empty.

Nikola Krstovic of Atalanta is challenged by Evan Ndicka of Roma during the Serie A match between Roma and Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, on 5 September 2026.

Matias Soulé also forced Carnesecchi into action with a volley, while substitute Santiago Castro came on and within minutes hammered the base of the upright from a difficult angle.

Leonardo Balerdi made his Roma debut, and Soulé directed a header straight at Carnesecchi, while Dybala’s left-footed curler flashed wide of the far post.

Cristante headed a Wesley cross beyond the far post, but despite all their possession and long spells spent pinning Atalanta back in the final third, Roma still could not find the breakthrough.

Charles De Ketelaere of Atalanta shoots during the Serie A match between Roma and Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, on 5 September 2026.

Roma were frustrated again when Castro hit the woodwork for the second time, his header crashing against the crossbar from a Nahuel Molina cross.

Roma eventually found the equaliser from a corner after another desperate double save by Carnesecchi, first from Dybala and then from Wesley on the rebound. From the resulting Matias Soulé delivery, Hermoso looped a header that went in off the inside of the far post.

Mario Hermoso of Roma celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Roma and Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, on 5 September 2026.

The home side were not satisfied with a draw and continued to press for a winner. Soulé slid in and sent one just wide, before a Castro curler from the edge of the area flew inches past the far post.

The pressure finally told when Soulé cut inside Davide Zappacosta and drilled a low shot through the narrow gap between Carnesecchi and the base of the near post, sending the Stadio Olimpico crowd into raptures.

Atalanta protested after the final whistle, with Gianluca Gaetano shown a red card.

Ederson 47 (A), Hermoso 90 (R), Soulé 93 (R)