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Roma are just one point shy of leaders Inter with one round to go and a dramatic finale to the season ahead!
Last week the Giallorossi were handed an unexpected reprieve when Milan won the derby, closing the gap from leaders Inter to just three points, but Luciano Spalletti insisted the title remained an improbable dream. Although Atalanta had nothing to play for, they proved with the last-gasp 3-2 win over Livorno that they wouldn't go on holiday just yet, and Gigi Del Neri was unbeaten in his two visits since Roma fired him in 2004-05.
Mirko Vucinic's header skimmed the woodwork when he really should have made the most of Jose Leonardo Talamonti's howler, while Alberto Aquilani couldn't keep his finish on target either.
Christian Panucci broke the deadlock against Sampdoria last week and repeated the trick with a similar goal, nodding in a free kick from six yards. It was his fifth Serie A goal of the campaign.
Simone Perrotta limped off with a knee problem, making way for Marco Cassetti.
Ferdinando Coppola fingertipped a fierce Vucinic free kick out from under the crossbar, but there was a real scare from a corner on 34 minutes when only the crossbar denied Manuel Belleri!
Cristiano Doni drilled across the face of goal, but Roma also lost Philippe Mexes. Max Tonetto's angled drive flashed across the face of goal.
Daniele De Rossi doubled their advantage with a splendid free kick that he curled into the near top corner.
Atalanta set up a tense finale at the Olimpico too, as Bellini sprung the offside trap on Cristiano Doni's cross-field pass and he slid the finish under Doni with Cicinho fluffing a goalline clearance.
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