After cruising to 4-0 wins over Fiorentina and Lecce to open the season, we all knew Atalanta would provide a stiffer test at the Olimpico on Saturday. Nevertheless, despite the Giallorossi dominating in the first half, they couldn’t break the deadlock. La Dea scored an early second-half goal, but the Giallorossi pressed on, pulling out a dramatic win. So, let’s look a little deeper at some of the numbers from the victory.
8
As in the number of consecutive Serie A victories Roma now has dating back to last season. With the win, Gian Piero Gasperini became just the third manager in Roma history to win eight straight in the league.
9
As in the number of chances created by Wesley in the match. It’s the highest number of chances created in a league match in Roma’s history—matched only by Diego Perotti in 2016/17. It’s also the number of Roma’s goal differential through three matches as the Lupi have scored 10 goals and conceded just once.
3.24
As in the xG created by Roma in this match. But perhaps even more impressive than the xG created or the resilience showed by the squad is the manor in which they dominated this match. Roma became the first Serie A team since Atalanta in 2022 to record 70+ touches in the opponent’s penalty area, 35+ shots, 30+ chances created and 10+ shots on target. It may have taken Roma 89 minutes to breach Carnesecchi’s goal, but they continuously generated offense and chances. Most weeks, the match would’ve been in little doubt with this kind of dominance.
4
As in the number of minutes that it took for Matías Soulé to flip this match’s result on its head. Soulé delivered the corner that Mario Hermoso nodded home in the 89’ and then delivered the winning goal in the 93’. Soulé has silenced his doubters so far this season and his two goal contributions just tell part of the story. He stuffed the stat sheet in his 36’ minutes on the pitch and proved to be Gasperini’s trump card on the day.
