Dec 03, (V7N) - Atalanta maintained their pursuit of Serie A leaders Napoli on Monday with a 2-0 victory over a struggling Roma side, marking Roma's first home match since Claudio Ranieri returned as head coach.

Goals from Marten De Roon, via a significant deflection in the 69th minute, and a late header by Nicolo Zaniolo, a former Roma player, secured Atalanta’s eighth consecutive win across all competitions. This result leaves Atalanta just one point behind Napoli, solidifying their position as second in the league, three points clear of Inter Milan, Fiorentina, and Lazio.

Under the guidance of Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta is proving themselves as serious contenders for the Scudetto, showcasing consistent form after winning last season's Europa League. The Bergamo club, historically considered underdogs, lead Serie A in goals scored and boast the league's top scorer, Mateo Retegui. With challenging fixtures against AC Milan and Real Madrid on the horizon, they continue to look formidable.

"This was a tough match, but winning here feels amazing," De Roon told Sky Sports. "We need to stay grounded and focus on one game at a time, but this winning streak has given us a lot of confidence."

Meanwhile, Roma’s struggles continued as they slipped to their sixth defeat in seven league matches, leaving them precariously placed two points above the relegation zone in 15th. Despite a more organized display under Ranieri, they created few meaningful chances, with early attempts from Leandro Paredes and Manu Kone posing little threat.

Fans at the Stadio Olimpico gave Ranieri a warm welcome with chants and banners, and Roma players sported T-shirts reading "Forza Edo" in support of Edoardo Bove, a former Roma academy product who collapsed during Fiorentina’s match against Inter Milan on Sunday.

The 22-year-old midfielder, on loan at Fiorentina, is currently conscious and undergoing medical tests at a hospital in Florence. The match in which he collapsed was abandoned after 16 minutes and will be resumed later this season. Bove was part of Roma’s squad under Jose Mourinho that won the Europa Conference League in 2022 and reached the Europa League final the following year.

Inter and Fiorentina, both trailing Atalanta, have a game in hand due to the stoppage caused by Bove's medical emergency.

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