Roma’s bid for a top-three finish in Serie A has received another setback after falling to a heavy 4-1 defeat at Atalanta.

The loss – Roma’s third in their last four away games – leaves Luis Enrique’s side fifth, four points behind third-placed Udinese and fourth-placed Lazio, both of whom play later on Sunday.

Roma were without two of their key players, with Francesco Totti suspended and Daniele De Rossi left out of the match-day squad by Enrique.

The decision to exclude De Rossi was not appreciated by the travelling Roma fans and in his absence, Atalanta’s Argentine striker German Denis claimed a hat-trick that took his tally for the season to 15 league goals.

In the fight against relegation, Siena capitalised on the early dismissal of defender Federico Balzaretti to romp to a 4-1 win at home to Palermo.

The Italian international saw red after just one minute and 13 seconds of the match, for a last-man foul on Siena’s Mattia Destro.

The victory kept the Tuscan side two points clear of the relegation zone, after third-bottom Lecce recorded a surprise 2-1 win at Cagliari.

Novara, 19th, fell 3-1 at Catania and bottom side Cesena lost 1-0 at Chievo to leave the two sides nine and 10 points from safety respectively.

Saturday’s 1-1 draw between top two AC Milan and Juventus was overshadowed by controversy surrounding a Sulley Muntari header for Milan that was not given despite the ball having clearly crossed the line.

With Antonio Nocerino having opened the scoring for Milan through a deflected 14th-minute shot, Muntari’s effort 11 minutes later would have doubled their lead if it had been awarded.

As it was, Juve equalised through Alessandro Matri in the 83rd minute to leave Antonio Conte’s men a point behind defending champions Milan in second place but with a game in hand, at Bologna on March 7.