Koulierakis and Castro make official Roma debuts in Fiorentina opener

Rodrigo Mora made his AS Roma debut at the Olimpico on 24 August, receiving an immediate opportunity from head coach Gasperini after just a week of training. The 19-year-old Portuguese forward played 53 minutes and nearly broke the deadlock with a striking effort from the edge of the box that seemed destined for the top corner, only for De Gea to deny him his first goal in giallorosso colours. Despite the close call, Mora's approach was assured and measured; he avoided overplaying and completed his task efficiently in what amounted to a successful audition. Gasperini had decided to give the young attacker a starting role immediately, backed by the faith shown in training. The Olimpico crowd supported Mora throughout his appearance, acknowledging a composed first outing. His substitution came at the 53-minute mark when Matías Soulé replaced him on the pitch. Gasperini had begun demanding more from his team after the interval, unsatisfied with Roma's second-half attitude before Donyell Malen added a second goal. As Mora departed to applause and headed to the bench, he approached his manager. The two embraced—a simple gesture that carried symbolic weight. The moment encapsulated an encouraging beginning: a debut, crowd recognition, and the warmth between player and coach that suggested a promising relationship was already forming.

Donyell Malen scored three goals as Roma opened the 2026–27 Serie A season against Fiorentina at the Olimpico, with Paulo Dybala providing all three assists in a dominant display of attacking football. Malen's opening goal, set up by Dybala after the Argentine had dribbled past two Fiorentina defenders and entered the box, initially drew him level with Gabriel Batistuta among Roma's all-time top scorers in the opening 20 matches of a season. However, the Dutch forward's second and third strikes—both again from Dybala crosses—saw him overtake the legendary Batistuta in that statistic. Malen's performance underlined his status as Roma's principal attacking threat. He has now scored 17 goals in 19 appearances for the club, figures that position him as the team's leading force. Dybala's three-assist haul completed a perfect attacking partnership, illuminating every offensive action Roma executed. The result also extended Roma's run of scoring in all their last 16 Serie A matches, a streak that reflects the offensive continuity built during head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's tenure.

Wesley spoke to DAZN at half-time of Roma's match against Fiorentina, emphasizing the team's defensive priorities. "We are focused on not conceding a goal," Wesley said. "That was the game plan knowing the opponent too. It was important to start so strong, pressing." Roma entered the second half having established an aggressive tone in the first 45 minutes. Wesley was asked about sustaining that tempo throughout the remainder of the fixture. When asked about an ankle complaint, Wesley reported no ongoing issue. "It's good now," he said. "I took a knock but I'm fine now."

Roma begin the 2026-27 Serie A season at home to Fiorentina, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini naming Rodrigo Mora in the attacking midfield role behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Matías Soulé drops to the bench. Lulli makes his competitive debut on the right flank in place of Nahuel Molina, who is not at full fitness; Wesley operates on the left. The defence comprises Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso, with Mile Svilar in goal. Gasperini's 3-4-1-2 formation pairs Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné in midfield. Fiorentina, managed by Grosso, line up in a 4-3-2-1 with David De Gea in goal and Lautaro Pellegrino as their striker. Roma's substitutes bench includes De Marzi, Koulierakis, Ghilardi, Ziółkowski, El Aynaoui, Pisilli, Vaz, Castro, and Soulé.

Donyell Malen scored three times as Roma defeated Fiorentina 3–1 in a Serie A match on 24 August 2026, with kickoff at 20:45. Malen netted in the 28th, 52nd and 61st minutes. Roma lined up in a 3-4-1-2 formation under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, with Mile Svilar in goal and a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. Bryan Cristante partnered Manu Koné in midfield, Wesley operated at left-back, and Paulo Dybala and Malen led the attack with Rodrigo Mora in support. Hermoso was cautioned in the 38th minute; Koné received a yellow card in the 49th. Gasperini made tactical changes as the match progressed, introducing Konstantinos Koulierakis for Hermoso in the 68th minute and Niccolò Pisilli for Koné in the 79th, while Matías Soulé replaced Mora in the 54th and Neil El Aynaoui came on for Dybala in the 79th. Santiago Castro also featured, replacing Malen in the 68th minute. Fiorentina, managed by Grosso, started with a 4-3-2-1 shape featuring David de Gea in goal.

Roma take on Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico at 20:45 in the opening fixture of the Serie A season. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has named a 22-man squad for the match, with all new signings included in the selection. The squad omits Lorenzo Pellegrini and Devyne Rensch. In goal, Gasperini has selected Mile Svilar, Giorgio De Marzi, and Pierluigi Gollini. The defence includes Konstantinos Koulierakis, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Jan Ziółkowski, Wesley, Lulli, and Daniele Ghilardi. Midfield options are Bryan Cristante, Neil El Aynaoui, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli, and Rodrigo Mora. Attacking players named are Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé, Paulo Dybala, and Robinio Vaz.

Roma begin the 2026-27 Serie A season at home to Fiorentina, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini naming Rodrigo Mora in the attacking midfield role behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Matías Soulé drops to the bench. Lulli makes his competitive debut on the right flank in place of Nahuel Molina, who is not at full fitness; Wesley operates on the left. The defence comprises Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso, with Mile Svilar in goal. Gasperini's 3-4-1-2 formation pairs Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné in midfield. Fiorentina, managed by Grosso, line up in a 4-3-2-1 with David De Gea in goal and Lautaro Pellegrino as their striker. Roma's substitutes bench includes De Marzi, Koulierakis, Ghilardi, Ziółkowski, El Aynaoui, Pisilli, Vaz, Castro, and Soulé.

Jonathan Rowe is set to join Atalanta for more than €30 million after a strong season at Bologna last year. Before closing the deal for Santiago Castro, Bologna had proposed the English winger to Roma's sporting director D'Amico, according to Alfredo Pedullà. Roma appreciated Rowe's profile but chose to pursue other targets and secure the financial terms to bring in a backup to Malen instead. The Giallorossi remain in search of a right-footed winger after the operation to sign Jayden Oosterwolde, who will arrive in the capital in the coming hours for medical examinations and to sign his contract.

Donyell Malen scored three times as Roma defeated Fiorentina 3–1 in a Serie A match on 24 August 2026, with kickoff at 20:45. Malen netted in the 28th, 52nd and 61st minutes. Roma lined up in a 3-4-1-2 formation under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, with Mile Svilar in goal and a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. Bryan Cristante partnered Manu Koné in midfield, Wesley operated at left-back, and Paulo Dybala and Malen led the attack with Rodrigo Mora in support. Hermoso was cautioned in the 38th minute; Koné received a yellow card in the 49th. Gasperini made tactical changes as the match progressed, introducing Konstantinos Koulierakis for Hermoso in the 68th minute and Niccolò Pisilli for Koné in the 79th, while Matías Soulé replaced Mora in the 54th and Neil El Aynaoui came on for Dybala in the 79th. Santiago Castro also featured, replacing Malen in the 68th minute. Fiorentina, managed by Grosso, started with a 4-3-2-1 shape featuring David de Gea in goal.

Fiorentina have lodged a protest over Roma's goal scored by Malen, citing a handball by Mario Hermoso on Mastantuono at the start of the move that led to the strike. The incident occurred during the match between the sides on 24 August 2026.

Roma opened their 2026-27 season against Fiorentina at the Olimpico with Matteo Marcenaro of Genoa as referee, assisted by Lo Cicero and Rossi, fourth official Fabbri, VAR Abisso, and assistant VAR Giua. The match saw two cautions: Fagioli was booked in the 30th minute for a foul on Dybala, and Hermoso received a yellow card in the 39th for a challenge on Mastantuono ahead of the halfway line. Roma scored through Malen to lead 1–0, but the goal sparked protest from Fiorentina after what appeared to be a handball by Hermoso against Mastantuono in the build-up. The incident occurred at the start of the attacking possession phase that led to the goal. DAZN's match analyst Luca Marelli examined the moment and concluded: "You have to consider the APP, the attacking possession phase, which came from that clash between Hermoso and Mastantuono. There was an infringement by Hermoso, but they probably didn't intervene because the contact was evaluated by the referee and it was anyway very far from the other goal. It's not a straightforward situation, just as it's not straightforward to assess these circumstances. Roma already had possession, even though that counts quite little." Earlier, Roma appeared to take the lead through Hermoso from a corner in the 20th minute, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR check revealed that Evan N'Dicka had touched the ball with his head before Hermoso, placing his teammate in an offside position.

Roma begin the 2026-27 Serie A season at home to Fiorentina, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini naming Rodrigo Mora in the attacking midfield role behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Matías Soulé drops to the bench. Lulli makes his competitive debut on the right flank in place of Nahuel Molina, who is not at full fitness; Wesley operates on the left. The defence comprises Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso, with Mile Svilar in goal. Gasperini's 3-4-1-2 formation pairs Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné in midfield. Fiorentina, managed by Grosso, line up in a 4-3-2-1 with David De Gea in goal and Lautaro Pellegrino as their striker. Roma's substitutes bench includes De Marzi, Koulierakis, Ghilardi, Ziółkowski, El Aynaoui, Pisilli, Vaz, Castro, and Soulé.