The Battle for Fifth: Roma and Atalanta's Champions League Chase

With three matchdays left in the championship, the race for fifth place, which would mean access to the next Champions League, is still open between Roma and Atalanta. Currently, Gasperini's team is at 60 points, the same as the Giallorossi who, however, are behind due to goal difference, thus momentarily sixth. The draw of De Rossi's team against Juventus in the last round has lost ground in the race for fifth place and now it's Atalanta who has the upper hand. Roma can still hope for the fifth place but their fate is no longer in their hands. Given the 2-0 disadvantage in the Europa League against Leverkusen, the Giallorossi are called to a great feat in Germany to reach the final but realistically Roma will have to win the direct confrontation against Atalanta in the championship to hope for the fifth place. There is still the possibility of having 6 teams in the Champions League, in case one between Roma and Atalanta should win the Europa League and finish sixth in the championship. Roma goes to the Champions League if... - Wins in Bergamo and maintains the +3 advantage until the end of the championship: Sunday, May 12, Roma will face Atalanta at the Gewiss Stadium and must necessarily win to regain control of their destiny. In case of success, the Giallorossi would overtake the Bergamo club again, moving to +3, two matchdays from the end. In this case, Atalanta could still obtain the place in the Champions League by finishing sixth in the championship and winning the Europa League. Alternatively, it should hope to overtake Roma in fifth position. By winning in Bergamo, Roma would temporarily move to +3 (waiting for Atalanta to recover the match against Fiorentina) with an advantage in direct confrontations (1-1 in the first leg). Then, maintaining the +3 advantage until the end of the championship, even in case of a victory of the Dea in the recovery, the direct confrontations would count and therefore it would be Roma to take the fifth place. What happens in case of a draw in Bergamo - Draws in Bergamo and Atalanta does not win the other matchdays: in case of a draw in Bergamo, Roma and Atalanta would remain tied in points and equal in terms of direct confrontations. The goal difference factor (+5 in favor of Atalanta) would then apply. At that point, Roma would have to win the other two matches and hope that Gasperini's team loses at least one of the remaining ones. What happens in case of defeat in Bergamo If Roma were to lose in Bergamo on Sunday, Atalanta would then go to +3 and with one less match (+6 in projection). In this case, De Rossi's team would have to win the other two matches and the Dea would have to lose at least two matches, as in case of equal points, Atalanta would have the advantage in direct confrontations. Roma's schedule Atalanta-Roma: Sunday, May 12 at 20:45 Roma-Genoa: Sunday, May 19, time to be defined Empoli-Roma: Sunday, May 26, time to be defined Atalanta's schedule Atalanta-Roma: Sunday, May 12 at 20:45 Lecce-Atalanta: Sunday, May 19, time to be defined Atalanta-Torino: Sunday, May 26, time to be defined *Atalanta-Fiorentina: recovery of the 29th matchday, day and time to be defined