Malen hat-trick lights up Roma's season opener against Fiorentina, surpasses Batistuta milestone

Konstantinos Koulierakis and Santiago Castro made their official competitive debuts for Roma in the opening Serie A match of the 2026–27 season against Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico. Both players arrived in the current transfer window and saw action after initial appearances in the club's pre-season training camp in Wales. Koulierakis, a Greek defender signed from Wolfsburg, entered the match in place of Mario Hermoso, while Castro came on as a substitute for Donyell Malen, who had scored a hat-trick before being withdrawn to applause from the home crowd. The two new arrivals had already featured in the squad's earlier warm-weather preparations, but this represented their first official competitive action in Roma colours.

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.

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."

Konstantinos Koulierakis and Santiago Castro made their official competitive debuts for Roma in the opening Serie A match of the 2026–27 season against Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico. Both players arrived in the current transfer window and saw action after initial appearances in the club's pre-season training camp in Wales. Koulierakis, a Greek defender signed from Wolfsburg, entered the match in place of Mario Hermoso, while Castro came on as a substitute for Donyell Malen, who had scored a hat-trick before being withdrawn to applause from the home crowd. The two new arrivals had already featured in the squad's earlier warm-weather preparations, but this represented their first official competitive action in Roma colours.

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.

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 their 2026-27 campaign against Fiorentina at the Olimpico on 24 August, kicking off at 20:45, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini handing competitive debuts to two players born in 2007. Rodrigo Mora, signed this summer from Porto for €25 million, will start as trequartista ahead of Matías Soulé, operating behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Emanuele Lulli, a product of Roma's academy, will make his Serie A starting debut at full-back in place of Nahuel Molina, who is not fully fit and will begin on the bench. The pairing marks a historic milestone for the club: it is the first time in Roma's history that two players born in 2007 have started together in an official competitive debut. Mora's arrival from the Portuguese club represents a significant investment in attacking depth, while Lulli's promotion offers the academy prospect his first meaningful opportunity to convince Gasperini of his quality at the top level. Lulli, the academy product, and Mora, the Portuguese talent, will both feature from the outset as Roma aim to begin their league season with a win.

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.