Atalanta vs AS Roma: Prediction, Lineups, Kickoff Time | Serie A 2025/26

Atalanta vs AS Roma — Match Preview

A blockbuster Saturday night clash lights up the New Balance Arena on 3 January 2026, as Atalanta host AS Roma in a pivotal Serie A showdown. La Dea find themselves in unfamiliar territory, languishing in 10th place with 22 points. Despite a spirited 2–1 win over Chelsea in the Champions League last month, their domestic form remains erratic, highlighted by a narrow 0–1 loss to Inter in their last outing.

Conversely, AS Roma are flying high in 4th place (33 points) and remain firmly in the Scudetto conversation. The Giallorossi bounced back from a defeat to Juventus with a convincing 3–1 victory over Genoa to close out 2025. However, they travel to Bergamo without several key stars due to AFCON and injuries, facing a team that has historically been their “bogey side” in recent years.

Atalanta vs AS Roma — Match Info

• Competition: Serie A (Matchday 18)
• Venue: New Balance Arena, Bergamo (Capacity: 24,950)
• Date: Saturday, 3 January 2026
• Kickoff: 20:45 CET | 19:45 GMT | 14:45 ET
• Referee: Michael Fabbri (ITA)

Atalanta vs AS Roma — Match Stakes

Atalanta (10th — 22 pts):

• Win → Moves to 25 pts; reignites the push for European places.
• Draw → Keeps the points tally ticking but leaves them stuck in mid-table mediocrity.
• Loss → A disastrous start to 2026; gap to Top 4 could widen to 14 points, effectively ending Champions League hopes via the league.

AS Roma (4th — 33 pts):

• Win → Moves to 36 pts; consolidates Top 4 status and keeps pressure on Inter and Milan.
• Draw → A decent point at a tough venue, but allows rivals to close the gap.
• Loss → Momentum stall; risks dropping to 5th if Juventus or Napoli win.

Atalanta vs AS Roma — Team News

Atalanta:

• Lookman A. — Out (International Duty – Huge Loss/Top Scorer – AFCON with Nigeria)
• Kossounou O. — Out (International Duty – AFCON with Ivory Coast)
• Bellanova R. — Out (Injury)
• Bakker M. — Out (Knee Injury)
• El Aynaoui N. — Out (International Duty – Morocco)
• Zappacosta D. — Questionable (Muscle Injury)
• Tactical Shift: Without Lookman’s pace and Kossounou’s defensive speed, Gasperini must reshuffle his 3-4-2-1 system.

AS Roma:

• Pellegrini Lo. — Out (Thigh Injury – Captain Missing)
• Ndicka E. — Out (International Duty – AFCON with Ivory Coast)
• Bove E. — Out (Heart Problems)
• Bailey L. — Questionable (Thigh Injury – Late test needed)
• Baldanzi T. — Questionable (Illness)
• Defensive Reshuffle: With Ndicka out, Mats Hummels or Mario Hermoso will step into the backline.

Atalanta vs AS Roma — Team Form (Last 5 Matches)

Atalanta

• 29/12 — 0–1 vs Inter (Serie A)
• 22/12 — 1–0 vs Genoa (Serie A)
• 14/12 — 2–1 vs Cagliari (Serie A)
• 10/12 — 2–1 vs Chelsea (UCL)
• 07/12 — 1–3 vs Verona (Serie A)

AS Roma

• 30/12 — 3–1 vs Genoa (Serie A)
• 21/12 — 1–2 vs Juventus (Serie A)
• 16/12 — 1–0 vs Como (Serie A)
• 12/12 — 3–0 vs Celtic (Europa League)
• 07/12 — 0–1 vs Cagliari (Serie A)

Atalanta vs AS Roma — Head-to-Head (Last 5 Meetings)

• 13/05/2025 — Atalanta 2–1 AS Roma (Serie A)
• 03/12/2024 — AS Roma 0–2 Atalanta (Serie A)
• 13/05/2024 — Atalanta 2–1 AS Roma (Serie A)
• 08/01/2024 — AS Roma 1–1 Atalanta (Serie A)
• 25/04/2023 — Atalanta 3–1 AS Roma (Serie A)

Atalanta vs AS Roma — Playing XI (Predicted Lineups)

Atalanta (3-4-1-2)

Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac; Ruggeri, Ederson, De Roon, Pasalic; Samardzic; De Ketelaere, Retegui

AS Roma (3-4-2-1)

Svilar; Mancini, Hummels, Hermoso; Celik, Kone, Paredes, Angelino; Soulé, Dybala; Dovbyk

Atalanta vs AS Roma — Impact Bench

Atalanta: Scamacca (Target man), Zaniolo (Former Roma player – X Factor)

AS Roma: Cristante (Stability), Shomurodov (Energy)

Atalanta vs AS Roma — Tactical Analysis

Atalanta

Without Ademola Lookman, La Dea loses its primary transition threat. Gasperini will likely rely on Charles De Ketelaere’s creativity and Retegui’s finishing. They will look to press Roma’s midfield high, targeting Paredes to force turnovers. However, their defense has been leaky (19 goals conceded), and Roma’s set-pieces will be a major worry.

AS Roma

Ivan Jurić (or current manager) will set up to frustrate. Even without Pellegrini, the creative burden falls on Paulo Dybala and Matias Soulé. Roma’s game plan will involve exploiting the space behind Atalanta’s wing-backs, with Artem Dovbyk acting as the focal point to hold up play. Defensively, they must communicate well without Ndicka to track Atalanta’s runners from midfield (Pasalic/Ederson).

Atalanta vs AS Roma — Key Battles

• Retegui vs Mancini — Physical battle in the box; sparks often fly between these two.
• Ederson vs Kone — The engine room duel; whoever wins this controls the tempo.
• De Ketelaere vs Hermoso — CDK’s drift into pockets vs Hermoso’s aggression.
• Carnesecchi vs Dybala — Goalkeeper needs a big night to stop La Joya.

Atalanta vs AS Roma — Spotlight Players

Atalanta — Lazar Samardzic

With Lookman at AFCON, the Serbian playmaker must step up. His left foot is magical, and his ability to unlock defenses or score from distance is Atalanta’s best hope of breaking down Roma.

AS Roma — Artem Dovbyk

The Ukrainian striker has been a revelation. His physicality allows Roma to bypass the press. He needs to be clinical against an Atalanta defense that often leaves gaps centrally.

Atalanta vs AS Roma — Prediction

Atalanta 1–1 AS Roma

Atalanta have a psychological edge (won 4 of the last 5 vs Roma), but their current form is unconvincing, and missing Lookman is a massive blow. Roma are more stable but struggle in Bergamo historically. Expect a high-intensity tactical stalemate where both sides cancel each other out.

Atalanta vs AS Roma — Betting Insights

• Both Teams to Score — YES (H2H history suggests goals).
• Double Chance — Atalanta or Draw (Home advantage is key here).
• Under 2.5 Goals — Risky but possible given absences.

Atalanta vs AS Roma — Where to Watch

• Italy: DAZN
• USA: Paramount+, CBS Sports
• UK: TNT Sports

Atalanta vs AS Roma — FAQs

Q: When is the Atalanta vs Roma match?

A: The match kicks off on Saturday, 3 January 2026, at 20:45 CET.

Q: Is Ademola Lookman playing?

A: No. He is away on international duty with Nigeria for AFCON.

Q: Who is the favorite?

A: It is a tight call. Bookmakers likely have Atalanta as slight favorites due to home advantage, despite being lower in the table.

Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community

Can the Giallorossi break the Bergamo curse?

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