Serie A - Tammy Abraham hits brace as Roma crush Atalanta to stay in race for Champions League places

Tammy Abraham helped himself to a double as Roma claimed a hugely impressive win at Atalanta, ending the home side's six-game winning streak in the process.

It took Roma less than a minute to break the deadlock when Abraham powered through a crowd of defenders and his deflected shot left Juan Musso with no chance.

Atalanta responded well but committed too many bodies forward and were punished when Roma sprang a counter-attack with Nicolo Zaniolo - the creator of the opening goal - squeezing it past Musso at his near post.

In response, Gasperini made an early substitution, replacing Berat Djimsiti with Luis Muriel, who made an almost immediate impact when his shot was deflected by Bryan Cristante, wrong-footing Rui Patricio and halving the deficit on the stroke of half-time.

After the restart, Duvan Zapata thought he had grabbed the equaliser with an instinctive header but VAR intervened and the goal was ruled out for offside.

And just two minutes later Atalanta's pain was compounded as Roma restored their two-goal advantage, Chris Smalling stabbing home at the far post from Jordan Veretout's free-kick delivery.

Abraham put the gloss on a thrilling away performance, smashing the ball into the top corner from 10 yards.

The win takes Roma above Fiorentina into fifth place, five points behind fourth-placed Napoli. Atalanta remain third, six points adrift of leaders Inter.

A lot has been written and said about Mourinho recently amid Roma's poor run of form, but this eye-catching victory will silence his critics - for now.

Atalanta had won every league game since the beginning of November, scoring goals for fun along the way, but they were punished time and time again by a ruthless Roma side who were just as effective defensively. Abraham set the tone early, albeit with a fortuitous goal, and after a lengthy barren spell it was exactly what he needed. His relief was tangible and he looked a player reborn, scoring his first brace in the Serie A.

Could this be a season-defining win for Roma? A Champions League place is now in sight and Mourinho will be hoping his side can finish their hectic festive schedule with another triumph when they host Sampdoria on Wednesday.

It could easily have been his compatriot Smalling, but Abraham just shades it. He led the line brilliantly well and took the two opportunities presented his way.

Atalanta: Musso 5, Toloi 5, Palomino 5, Djimsiti 5, Hateboer 5, De Roon 6, Freuler 5, Pezzella 5, Ilicic 4, Pasalic 5, Zapata 6.. subs: Malinovskiy 5, Miranchuk 5, Mahele N/A, Zappacosta N/A

Roma: Rui Patricio 6, Mancini 7, Smalling 8, Ibanez 7, Karsdorp 7, Veretout 7, Cristante 7, Zaniolo 8, Vina 7, Mkhitaryan 6, Abraham 8*.. subs: Shomurodov 5, Calafiori N/A, Bove N/A, Kumbulla N/A

1' - GOAL! Atalanta 0-1 Roma (Tammy Abraham): With less than a minute on the clock, Roma take the lead! Zaniolo feeds the run of Abraham, who powers through a crowd of defenders as he closes in on the goalkeeper. His shot takes a deflection off Hateboer and there's a stunned silence in Bergamo as the ball hits the back of the net!

27' - GOAL! Atalanta 0-2 Roma (Nicolo Zaniolo): Roma score their second on the break! Zaniolo is fed in space and after playing a clever backheel pass to Veretout, he gets it back, runs in on goal and squeezes it past Musso at the near post!

45'+1 - GOAL! Atalanta 1-2 Roma (Bryan Cristante own goal): Gasperini's sub halves the deficit! Muriel shoots from distance, it takes a massive deflection off Cristante, wrong-footing Patricio and ends up in the back of the net!

69' - Goal ruled out by VAR! Zapata thinks he has levelled the scores with an instinctive header from point-blank range but their celebrations are in vain as the officials spot an offside!

72' - GOAL! Atalanta 1-3 Roma (Chris Smalling): That should do it! For the second game running, Smalling gets on the scoresheet! Veretout whips in a free-kick and the Englishman is left unmarked to stab home!