In a poignant night at the Stadio Olimpico, Claudio Ranieri made his return as head coach of AS Roma, while the team rallied around Edoardo Bove following his recent health scare. Despite the emotional backdrop, Roma fell to Atalanta 2-0, marking a challenging start for Ranieri in his latest tenure.
Atalanta’s victory, their eighth consecutive in Serie A, brought them within one point of league leaders Napoli. The match saw Marten de Roon score the opener in the 69th minute, benefiting from a significant deflection off Roma defender Zeki Çelik. Nicolò Zaniolo, who celebrated his first goal back in Serie A in the dying moments of the game, further sealed the win for Atalanta. Zaniolo, a former Roma player who left for Fiorentina in 2023, received a mixed reception from the crowd, with both cheers and boos accompanying his celebration.
Following the defeat, Roma remains just two points above the relegation zone, a concerning position for the club. Ranieri, who is the team’s fourth coach this year, is embarking on his third stint with the club. In his initial matches, Roma suffered a loss to Napoli and managed a 2-2 draw against Tottenham in the Europa League.
During the match, fans showed their appreciation for Ranieri with banners celebrating his return. Additionally, Roma players donned special warm-up shirts emblazoned with “Forza Edo” to show support for Bove, a product of the club’s youth academy who is currently on loan at Fiorentina. Bove collapsed during a match against Inter Milan on Sunday and was placed in a medically induced coma. Fortunately, he was reported to be awake and alert by Monday, expressing a desire to watch Roma’s game.
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