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Malen Leads Roma to Fourth Straight Win as Gasperini's Side Tops Serie A
·15 September 2026·45d ago

Malen Leads Roma to Fourth Straight Win as Gasperini's Side Tops Serie A

Source: Forza Roma

Roma extended their unbeaten start to 2026-27 with a fourth consecutive victory, moving top of Serie A alongside Inter. Donyell Malen scored as Roma dominated Torino, with Niccolò Pisilli adding a late goal in stoppage time. The Dutch forward has become the division's leading scorer with six goals from 22 Serie A appearances totalling 20 goals.

Gasperini's side have conceded just one goal across four matchdays while scoring 12, producing figures that suggest title credentials. The manager's tactical adjustment—inverting his two attacking midfielders to break down Torino's resistance—proved decisive. Roma's defence impressed without Evan N'Dicka, who was ruled out unexpectedly due to a virus. The centre-back trio of Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi and Mario Hermoso proved nearly flawless, with Balerdi, who arrived from Olympique in understated fashion, increasingly commanding the defensive line.

Torino offered little threat despite early moments of promise, while Roma maintained control throughout. Pisilli's diagonal finish capped a determined attacking sequence initiated by Mancini down the right flank. The victory comes after Roma managed the fatigue from their Champions League trip to Istanbul. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport's Sebastiano Vernazza, Roma's credentials rest not merely on Malen's prolific form but on deeper strengths: structured play, clear tactical patterns and a collective mentality that binds the squad together. Saturday's fixture at the Olimpico against Inter will test those credentials at the highest level.

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Story Coverage10 sources on this story

Roma extended their perfect record to four consecutive Serie A victories with a 2–0 win at Torino on September 14, keeping them level on points with Inter at the top of the table. Donyell Malen opened the scoring—his sixth goal in four matches, matching a historic record held by Francesco Totti for goals in a season's opening fixtures—before Niccolò Pisilli sealed the result with a precise finish in stoppage time. Paulo Dybala provided the assist for Malen's opener, continuing his influential season with five assists across the opening four rounds. Roma dominated throughout, maintaining their high-pressing approach in the first half before managing the game from a position of strength in the second, particularly impressive given they were managing fatigue from midweek Champions League action in Istanbul.

The defensive performance proved the standout feature. Leonardo Balerdi, who replaced the unavailable Evan N'Dicka due to gastroenteritis, made an immediate impression on debut, earning praise for near-flawless positioning throughout. Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso provided robust support, with Mancini's aggressive positioning contributing directly to both goals by forcing errors in Torino's midfield. Mile Svilar made a crucial save from Salvatore Simeone. Italian outlets showed consistent praise for the defensive unit, with ratings for Balerdi ranging from 7 to 8, while Mancini received between 6.5 and 8. Malen drew ratings between 7 and 8, with one outlet awarding him an 8. Matías Soulé struggled to find his rhythm, earning the lowest marks at 5.5 to 6 across all outlets.

Roma have now scored 12 goals while conceding just one across their opening four fixtures—figures that suggest genuine title credentials. Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical adjustments, including the introduction of Marten de Roon off the bench, provided fresh energy to maintain control. The squad now faces a defining fixture on Saturday when Inter visit the Stadio Olimpico, a clash carrying significant title implications that will test whether Gasperini's side possesses the depth and mentality to sustain their early momentum.

AI synthesis of all sources below — always check the originals.

Testo Originale / Source Text

“la Roma va, sempre più sicura di sé, capolista a braccetto dell'Inter che ha ribaltato l'Udinese. Le scorie della trasferta di Istanbul, in Champions, sono state gestite bene. Quattro vittorie in quattro giornate, 12 gol realizzati e uno subito, Malen capocannoniere con sei reti. Numeri da scudetto…”

Read the full article in Italian at Forza Roma.

Read original on Forza Roma →

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