De Ketelaere’s brace seals 2-1 win over Roma

A brace from De Ketelaere in a well-played first half secured Atalanta a crucial 2-1 win over Roma in match week 36 of the 2023-2024 Serie A TIM season. With the victory clinched at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, the Nerazzurri move up to 63 points in fifth place.

The Nerazzurri started the first half on the front foot in a display of intensity and quality. Svilar came to the rescue from Lukaku's unintentional deflection and from the resulting corner, Djimsiti's diving header was wide. Atalanta took the lead in the 18th minute when Scamacca's through ball found De Ketelaere, who cut inside and curled a right-footed shot into the bottom corner. Two minutes later, the Belgian striker doubled his tally at the end of a dazzling move: Scamacca inspired Koopmeiners, who pulled back to set up De Ketelaere's left-footed finish. Atalanta continued to pile on the pressure as De Ketelaere threatened again, first with a left-footed shot that flew inches wide in the 37th minute, then with a shot from the by-line that Svilar tipped onto the post before the Roma goalkeeper then did well to keep out Hateboer's header. In the 44th minute, Koopmeiners tried his luck with a free-kick, but his effort bounced off the far post. The Nerazzurri threatened again in the first minute of added time, with Pašalić's left-footed curler going inches wide.

The Nerazzurri almost made it 3-0 in the opening minutes of the second half through Scamacca, whose 52nd-minute right-footer ended just wide of the far post. Lookman (59’) and De Roon (60’) also gave it a whirl but couldn’t find the back of the net. In the 63rd minute, it took Svilar’s reflexes to thwart Pašalić’s effort set up by Lookman. Roma pulled one back through Pellegrini, who converted a penalty in the 66th minute. Pellegrini himself also threatened in the 77th minute but Carnesecchi was alert. The Atalanta goalkeeper managed to also parry Lukaku's angled drive in the 83rd minute. Atalanta responded with Éderson testing Svilar, Lookman firing wide, Koopmeiners driving it wide of the post and Miranchuk skimming the post with a left-footer. After Koopmeiners fired a 93rd-minute right-footer over the crossbar, the match at the Gewiss Stadium ended 2-1 in favour of the Nerazzurri, who have now got away from Roma in the standings. The focus now turns to the Coppa Italia Frecciarossa final, which will be played against Juventus in Rome on Wednesday.

ATALANTA 2-1 ROMA

Scorers: De Ketelaere 18, 20 (A), Pellegrini pen 66 (R).

Atalanta: Carnesecchi, de Roon, Hien, Djimsiti, Hateboer, Pašalić (Scalvini 75), Éderson (Miranchuk 88), Ruggeri (Zappacosta 57), Koopmeiners, De Ketelaere (Lookman 57), Scamacca (El Bilal 57). Unused bench: Musso, Rossi, Toloi, Bakker, Adopo, Bonfanti, Palestra, Comi. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.

Roma: Svilar, Kristensen (Azmoun 87), Mancini, N'Dicka, Angelino, Cristante (Joao Costa 87), Paredes (Bove 46), Pellegrini, Baldanzi (Abraham 46), Lukaku, El Shaarawy. Unused bench: Rui Patricio, Boer, Karsdorp, Huijsen, Smalling, Llorente, Celik, Aouar, Zalewski, Pisilli. Coach: Daniele De Rossi.

Referee: Marco Guida from Torre Annunziata Assistant referees: Filippo Meli from Parma and Alessio Berti from Prato; Fourth official: Ermanno Feliciani from Teramo; V.A.R.: Rosario Abisso from Palermo; A.V.A.R.: Aleandro Di Paolo from Avezzano.

Notes: N'Dicka (R), Koopmeiners (A), Gasperini (A) booked.