Malen makes Serie A history with 19 goals in 20 Roma appearances

Roma conducted injury assessments on Monday following their victory at Lecce, with defender Evan Ndicka undergoing instrumental tests to determine the severity of a right adductor strain. Ndicka was initially named in the starting eleven but was forced to withdraw during the pre-match warm-up, prompting head coach Gian Piero Gasperini to start Daniele Ghilardi instead and keep the number 3 on the bench for the duration of the match. The tests scheduled for today will establish the exact nature of the muscular problem and any recovery timeline. The adductor issue marked the only negative note from the Lecce fixture, but the defensive department received positive news with the recovery of Devyne Rensch. The left-back has resolved a minor left flexor problem that had affected him in recent days and was set to rejoin full training in the session scheduled for today. Gasperini will benefit from Rensch's availability as Roma face a busy fixture schedule ahead.

Fabio Capello has confirmed his early-season forecast about Roma, telling La Gazzetta dello Sport that he predicted the club's strong start two weeks ago. He said he had warned observers to "be very careful with Roma as Inter's first rival for the Scudetto", and the opening two Serie A matches—in which Roma scored eight goals without conceding—have vindicated that assessment. Capello attributed Roma's seamless integration of new signings to a squad that is already familiar with Gian Piero Gasperini's system. "When in a squad you see everyone running and fighting, whoever comes in integrates quickly," he explained. "It is not a team that must do something different or new, so the task is straightforward. The others are already doing it well and so nothing extra." He noted that Roma finished the 2025-26 season strongly, securing Champions League qualification through a late-season climb the league, and that players already understand their manager's football philosophy. Capello described what Roma showed against Lecce—the most recent match before his interview—as confirmation of his earlier judgment. "The Roma of August has entertained me," he said when asked about the team's display. "Substantially Roma has returned to playing as it finished in the previous season: it has shown it has no integration problems, it does not need to do something different. Gasperini knows his players perfectly and the players know the coach perfectly: they go on the pitch and retrace what was done in the final phase of the championship last season." He concluded with a direct call to ambition: "I have seen it, I have declared it, I have even told Gasperini twice: at Roma it is time to win again."

Roma have opened the 2026–27 season with eight goals scored, none conceded, and six points from two matches against Fiorentina and Lecce. While cautioning against drawing sweeping conclusions from early fixtures, the article notes that Roma's performance at Lecce—where they dominated to such a degree that the home crowd applauded their own side's rare attacking moments in the second half—suggested a squad capable of imposing superiority without prolonging matches unnecessarily. The display drew comparison to Atalanta under Gasperini at their peak, when opponents were overwhelmed from the opening whistle. Donyell Malen's availability from the start of the season represents a significant shift. He joined Roma in January 2025 and immediately catalysed an impressive climbing run that secured Champions League qualification; having him from matchday one means the attack can shift the balance immediately. Paulo Dybala, though not as scintillating at Lecce as he had been against Fiorentina, showed he is physically well and maintained quality and sharpness throughout almost the entire match—a condition that elevates the whole team when sustained. The pairing of Malen and Dybala together is described as a dream coupling, though relying on both at peak fitness for an entire season would be unrealistic. Emanuele Lulli has emerged as an unexpected resource. After impressing against Fiorentina, he delivered another commanding display at Lecce and is now a full first-team option rather than merely covering an emergency; he tackles physical challenges with composure and shows surprising naturalness at this level. Rodrigo Mora scored for the first time in Roma colours. Gasperini continues to press the club and the Friedkins for a longer, more competitive squad capable of handling both Serie A and Champions League without depending entirely on his best players. An imbalance persists in the wide positions—Roma have largely right-footed full-backs and lack a genuine left-sided winger, a gap Gasperini could solve with the right signing. The article notes that sterner tests will arrive soon and will determine Roma's genuine competitiveness against the strongest opponents. However, avoiding premature judgment is not the same as ignoring what is happening: this Roma is stronger, more complete, more physical, and displays a different self-awareness. Gasperini's final transfer window deadline remains open, and what it delivers will shape the campaign ahead.

Roma have opened the 2026–27 season with eight goals scored, none conceded, and six points from two matches against Fiorentina and Lecce. While cautioning against drawing sweeping conclusions from early fixtures, the article notes that Roma's performance at Lecce—where they dominated to such a degree that the home crowd applauded their own side's rare attacking moments in the second half—suggested a squad capable of imposing superiority without prolonging matches unnecessarily. The display drew comparison to Atalanta under Gasperini at their peak, when opponents were overwhelmed from the opening whistle. Donyell Malen's availability from the start of the season represents a significant shift. He joined Roma in January 2025 and immediately catalysed an impressive climbing run that secured Champions League qualification; having him from matchday one means the attack can shift the balance immediately. Paulo Dybala, though not as scintillating at Lecce as he had been against Fiorentina, showed he is physically well and maintained quality and sharpness throughout almost the entire match—a condition that elevates the whole team when sustained. The pairing of Malen and Dybala together is described as a dream coupling, though relying on both at peak fitness for an entire season would be unrealistic. Emanuele Lulli has emerged as an unexpected resource. After impressing against Fiorentina, he delivered another commanding display at Lecce and is now a full first-team option rather than merely covering an emergency; he tackles physical challenges with composure and shows surprising naturalness at this level. Rodrigo Mora scored for the first time in Roma colours. Gasperini continues to press the club and the Friedkins for a longer, more competitive squad capable of handling both Serie A and Champions League without depending entirely on his best players. An imbalance persists in the wide positions—Roma have largely right-footed full-backs and lack a genuine left-sided winger, a gap Gasperini could solve with the right signing. The article notes that sterner tests will arrive soon and will determine Roma's genuine competitiveness against the strongest opponents. However, avoiding premature judgment is not the same as ignoring what is happening: this Roma is stronger, more complete, more physical, and displays a different self-awareness. Gasperini's final transfer window deadline remains open, and what it delivers will shape the campaign ahead.

Donyell Malen scored twice as Roma thrashed Lecce 4–0 away, extending his tally to five goals in two matches and reinforcing his point that he is the team's primary goalscorer this season. Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora also netted in the rout, which mirrored Roma's opening-day 4–0 victory over Fiorentina at the Olimpico. Across both matches, Roma have scored eight goals and conceded none—record-setting form under Gasperini. Yet transfer uncertainty clouds Roma's otherwise flawless start. Manu Koné remains the prize asset at risk, with Chelsea now joining Manchester United in pursuing the French midfielder. Marco Juric of La Repubblica writes that while Gasperini is determined to keep Koné, the final decision rests with owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin. The Texas-based proprietors, who have spent heavily on transfers, may now choose to finance the summer window through a significant departure. Chelsea's sale of Enzo Fernandez and their oversize squad make them capable of tabling an offer Roma cannot easily refuse—a bid in the Premier League mould. The truth will emerge in the coming 24 hours, the article concludes, leaving Roma fans to wait with bated breath.

Donyell Malen scored twice as Roma demolished Lecce 4–0 to match their 4–0 victory over Fiorentina in the opening round, extending their perfect start to the 2026–27 season. Malen struck after four minutes and again after 23, adding to his hat-trick against Fiorentina to give him five goals in Roma's first two matches—a club record for any player in the opening two games over the past 65 years. Gianluca Montella had previously managed four in the opening two fixtures during the 2004–05 season. With 19 goals in his first 20 Serie A appearances, Malen now ranks behind only Gunnar Nordahl and Alfredo Altafini in the competition's annals. Roma's dominance extends beyond Malen's output. The club have never before won their opening two matches with a four-goal margin, and this is only the second time in their history they have achieved a goal difference of +8 across two games—the previous occasion was in 1960–61. Matías Soulé added Roma's third goal, while Rodrigo Mora sealed the result with Roma's fourth, marking his first goal in Italian football. Gasperini named an unchanged starting eleven, fielding no summer signings except Emanuele Lulli, a youth graduate, whose selection reflects the coach's proven eye for young talent.