Lulli shines in Roma's opening display

Roma claimed their second successive 4-0 victory in as many Serie A matches, dismantling Lecce on matchday two. Donyell Malen was the standout performer, scoring twice in the opening 23 minutes after capitalizing on defensive lapses from the hosts. The winger's brace took his tally to five goals in Roma's first two league games. Matías Soulé added a third before halftime to wrap up the contest early. Rodrigo Mora then marked his Serie A debut with a goal in the second half. The victory moved Gasperini's side level on points with Inter, Juventus, Milan and Lazio at the summit, though Roma top the table on goal difference with eight goals scored and none conceded across their opening fixtures. The attacking display underlined Roma's early-season dominance, building on the four-goal haul against Fiorentina.

Roma demolished Lecce 4–0 at the Stadio Via del Mare in the second round of Serie A fixtures, recording a second consecutive four-goal victory after their thrashing of Fiorentina. Donyell Malen scored twice in the opening minutes to settle the match, then contributed across defence and attack throughout. Rodrigo Mora, introduced in the second half, marked his Roma debut with a goal and created a masterclass in technique that left the opposition helpless. Gianluca Mancini commanded the centre-back position with a towering defensive and attacking display, setting up Mora's goal with a crucial assist. Daniele Ghilardi, forced into action when Evan N'Dicka suffered an injury during warm-up, delivered a convincing performance at the back. Manu Koné dominated the midfield, contesting and winning every contested ball in the centre of the park, while Bryan Cristante offered essential support and recovery. Wesley provided the assist for Malen's second goal from right-back, though the quality of his delivery was inconsistent. Paulo Dybala understood the match was already decided and managed his involvement accordingly, reaching a high level throughout but ceding the spotlight to teammates; he spurned a simple goalscoring chance after receiving a fine assist from Mora. Matías Soulé netted a goal but could have finished with greater accuracy. Gian Piero Gasperini's side produced football resembling Atalanta's celebrated vintage, entirely dominating their opponent and dismantling them through a relentless goalscoring barrage. Gasperini received an 8 rating for a tactical performance that suggests the 2026–27 season holds genuine promise.

Roma hammered Lecce 4–0 to extend their perfect start to the 2026-27 season, dismantling their opponents with such force and speed that the match was settled within 25 minutes. Donyell Malen scored twice to top the Serie A scorers' chart on five goals in two games, adding his first brace in giallorosso following his debut for Fiorentina. Paulo Dybala played a quieter but pivotal role, orchestrating from midfield; Rodrigo Mora sealed the rout with his first Serie A goal. The performance laid bare Roma's trademark efficiency under Gasperini: pressing from every angle, dominating the second ball with aggression and verticality, and conceding nothing at the back. What sets this Roma apart is the orchestration. The attack flows joy, bringing defenders into play from the back line while never losing shape. Gianluca Mancini delivered a flawless defensive display, while Daniele Ghilardi, drafted in at the final second of the warm-up after Evan N'Dicka's injury, proved alert and solid across the full 90 minutes. The second 4–0 scoreline in consecutive matches — paired with the second clean sheet running — underlines Roma's early-season dominance. Malen's finishing masterclass combined precise first touch, explosive body movement to create space, and immediate shot selection. Mora's goal meant little for the scoreline but symbolised the entire mood: a Roma team that attacks with freedom and celebrates with abandon. The numbers contextualise the ambition. Only once in the previous nine seasons had Roma scored more than four goals across their opening two fixtures — in 2021–22. Roma have now matched that record and surpassed it in spectacle.

Emanuele Lulli gave his thoughts ahead of Lecce versus Roma in Serie A's second round of fixtures on 31 August 2026. The 19-year-old defender spoke about his experience in the Roma squad and the influence of his teammates. On playing with Paulo Dybala, Lulli said: "I'm grateful to play with him." He reflected on his early days at the club: "I wasn't sure I believed it at first, I was living a dream. After the first training sessions I told myself this is just the beginning — I have so much to improve, but thanks to the squad helping me and the manager, I can keep developing." Asked about his personality at such a young age, Lulli said: "I'm achieving my dream. I thank my teammates and the manager for their trust. I'm living a dream but it's only the start." He identified Donyell Malen and Dybala as his primary sources of learning on the pitch. "From Malen and Dybala especially — they push me to aim high and show my qualities in the attacking phase. I steal something with my eyes every day."

Roma swept to a dominant 4-0 victory at Lecce, with Donyell Malen delivering a man-of-the-match display that included two goals and creative play throughout. The forward struck in the third minute to open the scoring, then added a second shortly after, and continued to drive Roma's attack with assists and tireless running. Paulo Dybala orchestrated play between the lines and set up further goals, though he squandered a clear chance in the second half. Gianluca Mancini, shifted to centre at the last moment, dominated his direct opponent and provided an assist for Rodrigo Mora's contribution to the scoreline. Gasperini's side displayed complete control from the outset. Bryan Cristante commanded the midfield with the authority of a captain, exploiting Lecce's turnover attempts and combining physical presence with tactical awareness. The coach made no changes to his selection despite Chelsea's reported interest in Manu Koné, whose performance drew praise for his positioning and defensive work in hot conditions. Emanuele Lulli continued his run of mature displays at the back, while Wesley combined creative work with Matías Soulé on the left and contributed to the sweeping attacking move that produced Roma's second goal. Daniele Ghilardi came into the side and brought personality to his performance, inserting himself into the left flank between Lulli and Dybala and adding an offensive dimension without conceding space behind. The rout illustrated Roma's fitness advantage and tactical superiority. Hermoso brought physical authority and experience to break up Lecce's attacking moves, finishing in growing form and making a crucial line clearance. Koné appeared suddenly behind Lecce's attacking midfielders and moved the ball effectively in dangerous areas. Dybala received standing ovations from the Via del Mare crowd, his half-yard of space consistently yielding chances for teammates, though the sole criticism came from his wasted opportunity in the second half. Malen's performance overshadowed any individual concern—he recovered the ball relentlessly, ran the channels without rest, and went close to adding two more goals. Rodrigo Mora's entry brought absolute positivity to the midfield, offering a sharp contrast to Niccolò Pisilli's substitute appearance, which lacked its usual spark.

Gian Piero Gasperini spoke to reporters ahead of Roma's second Serie A fixture at Lecce on 31 August, addressing the unusual heat affecting the campaign and his team selection. The manager acknowledged the abnormal temperatures that have persisted for months, saying: "Abnormal heat that we've been carrying with us for a few months. We hoped that with the start of the championship there would be a bit less. I hope it doesn't also go against the fans." Gasperini built his starting XI around players who have completed full pre-season preparation, particularly Matías Soulé and Emanuele Lulli. Following Roma's strong performance and pace against Fiorentina in the opening fixture, he stressed the difficulty of conditions in Lecce and the standard required to win. "It's our characteristic — with Fiorentina we started very well, taking advantage of the considerable enthusiasm surrounding us," he said. "We know the difficulty of playing here at Lecce. We will have to put in a high-level performance to win today as well." On his squad depth, Gasperini noted: "With these conditions you need to rely on those who are well and have done the preparation like Soulé and Lulli. Everyone is ready now — football is played with 16 players. Substitutions make whoever starts from the bench a starter too." The manager's comments reflected his emphasis on tactical flexibility and the extended squad involvement required across a demanding season.

Roma demolished Lecce 4–0 at the Stadio Via del Mare in the second round of Serie A fixtures, recording a second consecutive four-goal victory after their thrashing of Fiorentina. Donyell Malen scored twice in the opening minutes to settle the match, then contributed across defence and attack throughout. Rodrigo Mora, introduced in the second half, marked his Roma debut with a goal and created a masterclass in technique that left the opposition helpless. Gianluca Mancini commanded the centre-back position with a towering defensive and attacking display, setting up Mora's goal with a crucial assist. Daniele Ghilardi, forced into action when Evan N'Dicka suffered an injury during warm-up, delivered a convincing performance at the back. Manu Koné dominated the midfield, contesting and winning every contested ball in the centre of the park, while Bryan Cristante offered essential support and recovery. Wesley provided the assist for Malen's second goal from right-back, though the quality of his delivery was inconsistent. Paulo Dybala understood the match was already decided and managed his involvement accordingly, reaching a high level throughout but ceding the spotlight to teammates; he spurned a simple goalscoring chance after receiving a fine assist from Mora. Matías Soulé netted a goal but could have finished with greater accuracy. Gian Piero Gasperini's side produced football resembling Atalanta's celebrated vintage, entirely dominating their opponent and dismantling them through a relentless goalscoring barrage. Gasperini received an 8 rating for a tactical performance that suggests the 2026–27 season holds genuine promise.

Roma hammered Lecce 4–0 to extend their perfect start to the 2026-27 season, dismantling their opponents with such force and speed that the match was settled within 25 minutes. Donyell Malen scored twice to top the Serie A scorers' chart on five goals in two games, adding his first brace in giallorosso following his debut for Fiorentina. Paulo Dybala played a quieter but pivotal role, orchestrating from midfield; Rodrigo Mora sealed the rout with his first Serie A goal. The performance laid bare Roma's trademark efficiency under Gasperini: pressing from every angle, dominating the second ball with aggression and verticality, and conceding nothing at the back. What sets this Roma apart is the orchestration. The attack flows joy, bringing defenders into play from the back line while never losing shape. Gianluca Mancini delivered a flawless defensive display, while Daniele Ghilardi, drafted in at the final second of the warm-up after Evan N'Dicka's injury, proved alert and solid across the full 90 minutes. The second 4–0 scoreline in consecutive matches — paired with the second clean sheet running — underlines Roma's early-season dominance. Malen's finishing masterclass combined precise first touch, explosive body movement to create space, and immediate shot selection. Mora's goal meant little for the scoreline but symbolised the entire mood: a Roma team that attacks with freedom and celebrates with abandon. The numbers contextualise the ambition. Only once in the previous nine seasons had Roma scored more than four goals across their opening two fixtures — in 2021–22. Roma have now matched that record and surpassed it in spectacle.

Emanuele Lulli gave his thoughts ahead of Lecce versus Roma in Serie A's second round of fixtures on 31 August 2026. The 19-year-old defender spoke about his experience in the Roma squad and the influence of his teammates. On playing with Paulo Dybala, Lulli said: "I'm grateful to play with him." He reflected on his early days at the club: "I wasn't sure I believed it at first, I was living a dream. After the first training sessions I told myself this is just the beginning — I have so much to improve, but thanks to the squad helping me and the manager, I can keep developing." Asked about his personality at such a young age, Lulli said: "I'm achieving my dream. I thank my teammates and the manager for their trust. I'm living a dream but it's only the start." He identified Donyell Malen and Dybala as his primary sources of learning on the pitch. "From Malen and Dybala especially — they push me to aim high and show my qualities in the attacking phase. I steal something with my eyes every day."