Scalvini strikes as Atalanta open 2026 with a crucial win over Roma

2026 got off to a crucial winning start as Scalvini’s goal proved decisive against Roma. On Matchday 18 of the 2025/26 Serie A Enilive season, the Nerazzurri edged out a hard-fought 1–0 victory at the New Balance Arena in a fiercely contested encounter.

The visitors carved out the first chance of the game in the 7th minute, but Carnesecchi first with his foot and then Djimsiti with a headed clearance denied Ferguson. Atalanta then made their pressure count, taking the lead in the 12th minute as Scalvini rose highest to head home Zalewski’s cross. The Nerazzurri went close to doubling their advantage on 20 minutes when Zalewski failed to steer Éderson’s rebound on target from a promising position. Scamacca thought he had made it 2–0 on 28 minutes, heading in Bernasconi’s cross, but the goal was chalked off following a lengthy VAR check, with the striker adjudged to have been in an offside position and to have interfered with play.

Early in the second half, Carnesecchi was called into action, denying both Ferguson and Soulé to keep Atalanta in front. On 64 minutes, Djimsiti produced a timely block to thwart Dybala’s close-range effort. The Nerazzurri responded a minute later on the counter, with Éderson surging forward before laying the ball off to Bernasconi, whose angled drive took a deflection and flashed just wide of the far post. The Nerazzurri threatened again on 81 minutes as Krstović glanced a header wide from a corner, while in stoppage time Carnesecchi was once more alert, racing off his line to smother at Dybala’s feet. At the other end, Krstović almost doubled Atalanta's lead in the 95th minute, but Svilar denied him at close range. At full time, it finished 1–0 to the Nerazzurri at the New Balance Arena.

ATALANTA 1-0 ROMA

Scorers: Scalvini 12 (A).

Atalanta: Carnesecchi, Scalvini (Hien 59), Djimsiti, Kolašinac (Ahanor 26), Zappacosta, De Roon, Éderson (Maldini 72), Bernasconi, De Ketelaere, Zalewski (Musah 59), Scamacca (Krstović 72). Unused bench: Rossi, Sportiello, Kamaldeen, Pašalić, Samardžić, Brescianini. Coach: Raffaele Palladino.

Roma: Svilar, Mancini, Ziolkowski (Wesley 46), Hermoso, Celik, Cristante, Koné (Pisilli 83), Rensch (Tsimikas 60), Soulé (El Sharaawy 66), Dybala, Ferguson (Dovbyk 60). Unused bench: Vasquez, Gollini, Angelino, Romano, Mirra, Lulli, Ghilardi. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.

Referee: Michael Fabbri from Ravenna;
Assistant referees: Dario Cecconi from Empoli and Filippo Bercigli from Florence;
Fourth official: Luca Zufferli from Udine;
V.A.R.: Fabio Maresca from Naples;
A.V.A.R.: Aleandro Di Paolo from Avezzano.

Notes: De Roon (A), Palladino (A), Mancini (R) and Hermoso (R) booked.