Pastore targets improvement despite sparkling goal

Pastore, making his home debut for the Giallorossi, sent the Stadio Olimpico into rapture with his first contribution of the game: a stunning backheel strike that found the bottom corner.

But Roma could not build on that early advantage and were 3-1 down at the break - only for a second half comeback to grab them a share of the points.

“It was a nice goal from the first chance of the game," Pastore said afterwards. "Cengiz [Under] put in a great delivery, I got my heel on it and luckily it went in!

“It was a great game for neutrals, that's for sure! Unfortunately, we weren't in it at all in the first half. We came out much more determined after the break and it was a different game after that. We scored two and could have gone on to win it. Hopefully we can push on from here and keep improving.”

Roma seemed to struggle with Atalanta's fitness, with the away side already well into their season, having played a number of qualifying games in Europe.

“We eased off after the goal and let them have the ball – we mustn't do that," Pastore said. "We have lots of skilful players so we should the ones in control of the game, as we were in the second period.”

Asked to compare his two games so far with his time in France, Pastore added: “It's true that I've had to put in a lot of legwork in these first two games but I want to kick on from here and keep on improving.”