Roma 1-1 Atalanta - Serie A result as Hermoso responds to Krstovic stunner to leave neither side with breakthrough win in top-four race

Gian Piero Gasperini failed to get one over his former employers as Roma’s UEFA Champions League qualification hopes were dealt a blow in a 1-1 draw with Atalanta.

Como’s defeat to Sassuolo on Friday meant the capital club had the chance to jump into joint-fourth place alongside Juventus with a win, putting pressure on the Bianconeri ahead of their clash with Bologna on Sunday night – which will be live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

But the Giallorossi’s big-game blind spot cost them again as they fell behind early to a Nikola Krstovic screamer to leave themselves with a mountain to climb.

Roma mustered a stirring response, calling Marco Carnesecchi into a string of impressive saves in the Atalanta goal before Mario Hermoso volleyed home the leveller on the brink of half-time.

But neither side could find the decisive breakthrough in a cagey second half as they took a point apiece, which did little to help their respective ambitions in the Serie A run-in.

Roma remain sixth, level with Como on 58 points and two behind Juve, who now have the chance to pull five points clear of the chasing pack by beating Bologna.

Atalanta, meanwhile, failed to close the gap and revive their fading Champions League hopes, and they remain four points behind Roma in seventh with five games remaining.

Neither side can find the killer blow as the whistle blows to hand both a point that won't do much to move the dial in the top-four race.

But Tsimikas' whipped delivery is headed clear and Atalanta survive! We are almost halfway into four added minutes.

Both sides are getting into good positions, but neither can make them count. Carnesecchi is a lucky boy as he goes unpunished for fumbling a Venturino cross - that would have been a howler if a Roma player had been on hand to take advantage.

Who dinks an inviting cross into the box, but Atalanta eventually clear their lines.

Lots of possession for the visitors now, who could make nothing of a corner.

On comes Pasalic, who has a remarkable habit of scoring in big games. Can he provide the goods again tonight? He replaces Ederson, who was on a yellow.

He's replaced by Tsimikas, who gets a few whistles and boos from the home crowd. His loan from Liverpool hasn't been a big success, it's safe to say.

He hauls down Raspadori as Atalanta try to break.

Hermoso's header loops high into the air and drops onto the top of the bar! Carnesecchi probably had that covered but what a danger the Spaniard is proving tonight.

The 19-year-old picks up the ball on the right wing and cuts inside onto his left foot, and his deflected shot earns Roma a corner.

He replaces Soule.

From an Atalanta corner - a rare chance for La Dea, who have gone quiet in the last 15 minutes or so.

Venturino has looked lively since coming on, setting up that chance for Hermoso, and he gets one of his own here as he hooks a header over.

...but his header is saved by Carnesecchi.

It almost pays off for Roma as Celik plays the ball to Malen, who backheels it back into his path, but the wing-back's finish is deflected over. Roma are on the ascendancy here.

Another terrific effort from the striker, who makes a good run and gets a rasping shot away that requires a sharp reaction stop from Carnesecchi despite being from a tight angle.