Roma and Atalanta were made to settle for a point apiece in a 1-1 draw in Serie A, which does little for either team in the battle for European qualification.

The build-up to Saturday's game at Stadio Olimpico was dominated by a falling-out between Roma's senior advisor Claudio Ranieri and their head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who was up against the team he managed for a hugely successful nine-year period. 

And though the Giallorossi showed spirit to earn a point from 1-0 down, fourth-place Juventus now have a chance to go five points clear of them in the Champions League race.

The first real attack by either team resulted in Atalanta going ahead, with Nikola Krstovic powering past Mile Svilar after being slipped in by Marten de Roon in the 12th minute.

Donyell Malen drew two saves from Marco Carnesecchi, the first of them an excellent recovery stop at close quarters, before Roma levelled in the final minute of the first half, with Mario Hermoso volleying into the roof of the net from Devyne Rensch's knock-down.

The hosts were dominant throughout the second half, but Carnesecchi remained alert to deny Stephan El Shaarawy and Malen with near-post saves, and Lorenzo Venturino nodded over the top.

The closest Roma came to a winner was in the 75th minute, when a looping Hermoso header bounced off the top of the crossbar with Carnesecchi scrambling, as they dropped two potentially valuable points.

They remain sixth, level on points with fifth-placed Como, who were beaten 2-1 by Sassuolo earlier on Saturday, while Atalanta are four points back in seventh.

Data Debrief: Roma frustrated by La Dea again

After a run of eight consecutive home Serie A wins against Atalanta, Roma have now won just one of their last 12 such matches against the Bergamo club (D6 L5).

The Giallorossi did avoid a fifth straight home loss against La Dea, something they have not endured against a single opponent in Serie A since doing so against AC Milan from 1988 to 1990.

Yet the main beneficiaries of this draw are Juventus, who host Bologna on Sunday.

It was a game of few real chances, with Roma's 19 shots only adding up to 0.9 expected goals (xG), while Atalanta accumulated 0.68 xG from eight attempts.