ROME — Comeback specialist Kostas Manolas scored the equaliser for Roma in a 3-3 draw with Atalanta in Serie A on Monday.
Eight minutes from time, in Roma’s home opener, Manolas was waiting at the far post when a free kick from Aleksandar Kolarov came over the top, allowing the Greece centre-back to tap in.
With Roma having trailed 3-1 at half-time, Manolas’ goal immediately brought back memories of his decisive late score in the 3-0 victory over Barcelona in last season’s Champions League quarterfinal — when Roma overturned a 4-1 first-leg deficit.
However, Edin Dzeko and Patrik Schick each missed solid chances at a winner.
Roma and Atalanta each have four points from the opening two rounds — two points behind leaders Juventus, Napoli and Spal.
Roma had taken an early lead when newly signed Javier Pastore scored a delightful back-heel goal two minutes in.
But Atalanta then took advantage of poor defending — including by Manolas — and produced an equaliser from Timothy Castagne, then a brace from Emiliano Rigoni.
Alessandro Florenzi began Roma’s comeback by bursting through the center of Atalanta’s defence and unleashing a long shot on the hour mark.
Roma visit AC Milan on Friday, a day after Atalanta visit Copenhagen in the Europa League playoffs. Atalanta and Copenhagen drew 0-0 in the opening leg.
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