European football: Roma sack coach Ivan Juric after just 12 games in charge

Roma have sacked Ivan Juric after only 12 matches in charge. The Croatian became the second Roma head coach to be fired this season after the side’s 3-2 home defeat by Bologna on Sunday, their fourth loss in the last five league games which left them 12th in the Serie A table.

“We would like to thank Ivan Juric for his hard work these past weeks,” Roma said in a statement. “He handled a difficult environment with the utmost professionalism, and for that we are grateful. The search for a new head coach has already begun and an announcement will be made in the coming days.”

Roma appointed Juric in September, after sacking the club legend Daniele De Rossi, to become their third coach in the span of eight months. Juric, formerly coach at Torino, Verona and Genoa, started off with home wins against Udinese and Venezia in the league, either side of a 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League. His good run, however, ended there and Roma won only once in their next six league games.

Atalanta beat Udinese 2-1 to move into second in Serie A, level on points with the leaders, Napoli, who play at Inter later on Sunday. Atalanta fell behind in the first half to a goal from Hassane Kamara, but fought back to win courtesy of a Mario Pasalic strike and an Isaak Touré own goal.

In Spain, Julián Alvarez scored a tap-in from a second-half counterattack to give Atlético Madrid a 1-0 win at Real Mallorca in La Liga. It is a fourth consecutive victory in all competitions for Diego Simeone’s side. Atlético are third in the table on 26 points, one behind Real Madrid in second and seven adrift of the leaders, Barcelona, who have a game in hand at Real Sociedad later on Sunday.