Francesco Totti scores for Roma but Atalanta battle back for draw

Roma missed a chance to reclaim second place in Serie A after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Atalanta on Sunday.

The Giallorossi went into the game knowing that victory would see them climb above city rivals Lazio, who saw their eight-game winning streak in the league ended in a 2-0 defeat at Juventus on Saturday.

Roma captain Francesco Totti put his team ahead in the third minute from the penalty spot but German Denis pulled Atalanta level with a spot-kick midway through the first half.

The Giallorossi struggled to break down Atalanta's defensive wall and for the ninth straight game in Serie A failed to score more than one goal.

Roma are in third place but did move level on 58 points with Lazio.

Atalanta, who hold the last position of safety, are seven points clear of the drop zone with seven games remaining.

The visitors went into the game without defender Giuseppe Biava, midfielder Luca Cigarini and the team's top scorer Mauricio Pinilla, because of suspensions.

AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca

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They suffered an early setback when the referee pointed to the spot after a Guglielmo Stendardo handball.

Totti's diagonal shot beat Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello.

Atalanta equalised after Urby Emanuelson earned a penalty when brought down in the area by Roma's Davide Astori.

Denis sent his spot-kick towards the bottom left corner of the goal and out of Roma goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis' reach.

In the 28th minute, Sportiello was forced to make a save after a poor back-pass from Carlos Carmona allowed Roma striker Alessandro Florenzi to enter the Atalanta area and take a shot on goal.

Atalanta put a good move together in the 34th minute when Emanuelson fed Alejandro Gomez in the box and his right-footed effort towards the near post was saved by De Sanctis.

With the Giallorossi struggling up front, Roma coach Rudi Garcia brought on Victor Ibarbo for the ineffective Juan Iturbe and also inserted Seydou Keita into midfield as a replacement for Leandro Paredes.

Roma's struggles continued and they were limited to shooting from distance.

On the hour, Sportiello was twice called upon to make saves of long-range attempts from Radja Nainggolan and Florenzi.

Roma could not find a way through and grew frustrated.

In the 79th minute, a diagonal shot by Adem Ljajic was kept out by Sportiello.

Atalanta's Giulio Migliaccio did well to clear the rebound with Vasilis Torosidis ready to pounce on the loose ball.

Atalanta defended deeply and held on for a vital point in their battle to avoid the drop.