Separated by just one point in the Serie A standings, Roma and Atalanta BC are both trailing behind Italy's top four ahead of their Sunday night clash in the capital.
The teams convene at Stadio Olimpico having both progressed to the Coppa Italia quarter-finals in midweek, though it took a late escape for the Giallorossi to squeeze past Serie B opposition.
Heading into the final 15 minutes, Jose Mourinho's side trailed 1-0 and were staring at another embarrassing exit, but first-choice strike duo Romelu Lukaku and Paulo Dybala both emerged from the bench to score late goals and save Roma's skin.
The Giallorossi therefore made a successful start to the new year, after their 1-0 league defeat to Juventus last Saturday - which continued a string of failures against other top teams - saw them end 2023 on a down note.
Although they are into the latter stages of both the Coppa and Europa League, a deficit must be made up in order to secure an elusive top-four spot in Serie A: Roma sit seventh in the standings, just behind Fiorentina, Bologna and their next opponents.
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