On a poignant night in Rome, Claudio Ranieri made his return to the Stadio Olimpico as the home coach, while Edoardo Bove received overwhelming support following his recent health scare.

Despite the emotional atmosphere, Ranieri’s Roma faced a disappointing defeat against Atalanta, losing 2-0. Atalanta’s victory allowed them to narrow the gap on Serie A leaders Napoli to just one point, marking their eighth consecutive win in the league.

The scoring began with Marten de Roon in the 69th minute, whose shot took a significant deflection off Roma defender Zeki Çelik. Nicolò Zaniolo then capped the match with a goal in the dying moments, marking his return with a flourish. Zaniolo, who had spent five years at Roma before his departure in 2023, celebrated intensely but was met with loud boos from the Roma supporters.

Currently, Roma is positioned just two points above the relegation zone, as they grapple with the challenges of the season. Ranieri is now the team’s fourth manager this year and is navigating his third tenure at the helm of the club. His prior matches included a loss to Napoli and a draw against Tottenham in the Europa League, both of which have intensified the pressure.

During Ranieri’s first game back at home, fans displayed numerous banners celebrating his return and expressing gratitude for his leadership. Additionally, the team donned special shirts in their warmup that read “Forza Edo” in solidarity with Bove. Bove, a product of Roma’s youth academy who had joined Fiorentina on loan, suffered a collapse during a match against Inter Milan. After being placed in a medically induced coma, he has since awakened and was reportedly eager to watch Roma’s game.