| Francesco Totti converted two penalties as Roma fought back from a goal down to beat Atalanta and keep the pressure on Inter. The Giallorossi needed a victory to maintain the four-point gap from leaders Inter and the pressure was on Vincenzo Montella to prove himself amid reports of a January loan offer from Milan. Atalanta welcomed back Adriano, Massimo Donati, Cristiano Doni and Riccardo Zampagna from suspension. The visitors had a good early chance, as Luca Ariatti's misplaced pass allowed Christian Panucci to clear from Doni. Cristiano Doni was again dangerous when he flicked the ball past Philippe Mexes down the left flank and placed it past goalkeeper Alexander Doni, but there were no teammates to deposit into the empty net. Roma's first real scoring opportunity didn't arrive until the 18th minute, as Montella sprung the offside trap to leave Simone Loria stranded and brought a save out of Alex Calderoni with his weaker right foot. However, Atalanta were playing better and it was Doni who inspired the opener. He ran rings around David Pizarro and cut back for a saved Donati shot, but they could do nothing on Zampagna's follow-up from seven yards. The inspirational Doni curled a free kick inches past the upright, while Francesco Totti attempted his trademark lob just missing the target with Calderoni stranded. Moris Carrozzieri deflected Amantino Mancini's shot over the bar from Totti's pass, but it could so easily have been 2-0 before the break. Ferreira Pinto dragged Alexander Doni out wide on the right and he rolled the ball across towards an empty net, kept out by a Mexes goalline clearance. Another on-going move fell out to Migliaccio, whose drive was off target from a promising position just outside the area. Montella's performance disappointed, as did the tactical change, so for the second half Luciano Spalletti returned to a 4-2-3-1 system with Simone Perrotta replacing the striker. Within 70 seconds Bellini had to close down the substitute as he ran on to a Totti pass. Yet Atalanta were again more threatening, as Cristiano Doni was allowed a free header from Bellini's cross and turned it just over an open goal. Moments later Totti and Mancini exchanged passes before Loria pulled Perrotta back by his shorts just inside the penalty area. The captain stepped up and buried the spot-kick past Calderoni, even though the goalkeeper had picked the right side, as it went right into the near corner. Perrotta's low strike from the D whistled wide and an acrobatic Carrozzieri overhead kick clearance stopped Mancini getting on the end of Totti's flicked pass over the defence. The move continued and Migliaccio's late tackle caught Totti's ankle for a second penalty. Il capitano converted this one as well, firing it over the 'keeper, but it had to be re-taken due to encroachment. It didn't make any difference, as Totti hit it like the first kick, powerful into the near corner. Atalanta were behind for the first time, but didn't give in, as soon after Loria's glancing header just missed an Ariatti tap-in at the back post. Perrotta ran on to Totti's through ball and had another penalty appeal, this time waved away. Totti went for the hat-trick, curling a free kick just past the far top corner with Calderoni beaten. It was now a very open game with Doni inspiring substitute Defendi, closed down by good defending, Substitute Nicola Ventola tried to squeeze through two defenders on Doni's pass, then on the counter-attack Calderoni plucked the ball off Perrotta's foot. It was an all-Doni battle five minutes from time, as Alexander flew to palm Cristiano's free kick out from the near top corner. Rivalta's first touch let him down from another intelligent Doni free kick that went round the defensive wall, allowing Pizarro to tackle him, albeit with the suspicion of a penalty foul. There was further tension in the final minute, as Donati was shown a straight red card for flying through the back of Perrotta. It was perhaps a little harsh, but this was a crunching tackle that caught the World Cup winner's ankle between his legs. | 
