Roma failed to keep the pressure on Serie A leader Juventus as it lost 2-1 at in-form Atalanta on Sunday. Juventus, which beat Pescara 3-0 on Saturday, remained seven points clear of Roma although AC Milan can cut the gap to five if it beats Inter Milan in the Derby della Madonnina later. Atalanta is just a point behind Roma, and level with Milan and Lazio. Franck Kessie converted a penalty in the final minute to secure Atalanta's fifth successive league win after Leandro Paredes had tripped Papu Gomez in the area. Roma had taken the lead through a penalty of its own five minutes before halftime following impressive work by Edin Dzeko. He controlled a long ball on his chest and sidefooted it to the onrushing Mohamed Salah. The Egypt forward's shot hit Rafael Toloi's arm. Diego Perotti drilled the spot kick into the bottom left corner to give Roma a deserved lead after it had dominated the first period, with Salah missing a couple of golden opportunities. Atalanta, which had picked up 19 out of a possible 21 points since Sept. 26, attacked more in the second half and brought on midfielder Marco D'Alessandro for defender Andrea Masiello. The home side fought desperately for the equalizer, although it left itself dangerously exposed at the back to Roma's counterattacks. However, the risk paid off shortly after the hour. Leonardo Spinazzola sent a through ball for Kessie, whose low cross came off Roma defender Kostas Manolas and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny before going in off Atalanta defender Mattia Caldara. Atalanta also hit the post through Remo Freuler's deflected effort before Kessie's winning penalty.
