Roma 3-1 Atalanta: Bojan, Osvaldo & Simplicio goals make it two wins on the bounce for Luis Enrique's side

Roma put in a fluid first half performance but were pushed all the way before they halted Atalanta’s charge up the Serie A table at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Coach Luis Enrique promised attacking football as Roma went in search of back-to-back wins but it was the visitors who started the better.

Atalanta came into the match undefeated with three successive wins and showed their confidence as Simone Padoin fizzed a shot past Bogdan Lobont’s near post.

Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game

Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets!

Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25

Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200

Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20!

There was hope Maarten Stekelenburg would return between the posts after his collision with Inter defender Lucio two weeks ago, but the Dutch shot stopper was left out of Enrique’s matchday squad.

Maximiliano Moralez was put through by Denis in the eighth minute but the Argentine, who has been in sparkling form since his summer move from Velez Sarsfield, shot tamely into the arms of Lobont.

Pablo Osvaldo went close from eight yards after good covering from Andrea Masiello, and that seemed to spark Roma into life as they took control of midfield. Daniele De Rossi found himself unmarked at the back post but couldn’t connect with a volley, Francesco Totti stung the gloves of Andrea Consigli then from the resulting corner Nicolas Burdisso had a header fly just wide.

The pressure proved too much for the Bergamo side as Bojan latched onto a beautifully angled ball from De Rossi, and the former Barcelona striker showed strength to hold off Gianpaolo Bellini and score his first goal for the club.

Bojan almost made it a double as he again bossed the defence to force Consigli to tip over, and from the resulting corner Osvaldo took advantage of some haphazard Atalanta defending. Masiello was slow retreating, playing Osvaldo onside, and the striker was afforded time to control and make it 2-0 at half-time.

Stefano Colantuono sent his side out with renewed vigour and they got one back minutes into the second period; German Denis out-jumping Gabriel Heinze to nod home his fourth of the season.

Totti almost restored Roma’s two goal advantage after blasting a shot from inside Atalanta’s box, but the captain’s effort was inches wide of the post.

The visiting team continued to push for the equaliser, winning a succession of corners but Roma managed to regain their composure and 10 minutes from the end sealed all three points.

Fabio Simplicio, starting his first game of the season, played a smart one-two with Pjanic and the Brazilian burst into the box to beat chip Consigli and make the final score 3-1.