Malen transforms Roma's attack: striking power that strikes fear into opponents

Donyell Malen has joined an elite group of Serie A strikers after scoring twice against Lecce to reach 19 goals in his first 20 competitive appearances for Roma. The Dutch forward's record places him behind only two legendary figures in the single round-robin era of Italian football: Gunnar Nordahl in 1949 and José Altafini between 1958 and 1959, both of whom scored 20 goals in their opening 20 matches. Malen has established himself as a cornerstone of Roma's attack under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini this season. His prolific form ranks among the most significant impacts recorded by any newcomer to Italian football in recent history, confirming his status as a defining attacking weapon for the club.

Roma hammered Lecce 4–0 to claim three points in a one-sided fixture, with Donyell Malen producing a standout performance. Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora also found the net. Emanuele Lulli delivered a strong display in defence, while Daniele Ghilardi emerged as an unexpected highlight after being drafted in at short notice due to Evan N'Dicka's absence. Gasperini deployed Roma in a 3–4–1–2 formation. Ghilardi's emergency shift proved effective, earning him marks of 7.5 from Corriere dello Sport, 6.5 from Gazzetta dello Sport, 7 from Messaggero, and 7 from Tempo. Mile Svilar received ratings ranging from 6.5 to 7 across the four newspapers. Gianluca Mancini was rated between 6 and 7, while Mario Hermoso earned 6 to 7.5 depending on the outlet. In midfield, Bryan Cristante was graded 6.5 to 8, with Corriere awarding him the highest mark. Manu Koné received 6.5 to 7.5 before being withdrawn at the 67th minute in favour of Niccolò Pisilli. Wesley was rated 6.5 to 7 and was replaced at the 60th minute by Nahuel Molina. Malen's performance drew praise with an 8 from Gazzetta, Messaggero and Tempo, and 8.5 from Corriere. Soulé was marked 6.5 to 7.5 and was substituted at the 60th minute for Mora, who received 6.5 to 7. Paulo Dybala earned 6.5 to 7.5 before departing at the 84th minute for Marten de Roon. Gasperini received ratings of 7.5 to 8 for his management.

Roma made a perfect start to the 2026-27 season with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Lecce on matchday two, but transfer speculation threatens to overshadow their early form. Donyell Malen scored twice to reach five goals in just two matches, with Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora also on the scoresheet. Roma have now won both their opening fixtures by 4-0, having beaten Fiorentina on their league debut, without conceding a goal across eight goals scored. The comfort on the pitch is complicated by interest from English clubs in midfielder Manu Koné. Following sustained approaches from Manchester United, Chelsea have now stepped forward with a firm offer, strengthened by funds from the sale of Enzo Fernandez. The Blues are preparing an offer in Premier League format that Roma may find difficult to refuse. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini regards Koné as a fundamental pillar of his midfield and does not wish to lose him mid-season. However, the final decision rests with owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin. After the substantial investment the Friedkin Group has made over the summer, they may consider a high-profile sale if Chelsea's bid is deemed irresistible. The coming 24 hours will be decisive in determining whether Roma can secure Koné until the end of the transfer window.

Donyell Malen has joined an elite group of Serie A strikers after scoring twice against Lecce to reach 19 goals in his first 20 competitive appearances for Roma. The Dutch forward's record places him behind only two legendary figures in the single round-robin era of Italian football: Gunnar Nordahl in 1949 and José Altafini between 1958 and 1959, both of whom scored 20 goals in their opening 20 matches. Malen has established himself as a cornerstone of Roma's attack under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini this season. His prolific form ranks among the most significant impacts recorded by any newcomer to Italian football in recent history, confirming his status as a defining attacking weapon for the club.

Roma hammered Lecce 4–0 to claim three points in a one-sided fixture, with Donyell Malen producing a standout performance. Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora also found the net. Emanuele Lulli delivered a strong display in defence, while Daniele Ghilardi emerged as an unexpected highlight after being drafted in at short notice due to Evan N'Dicka's absence. Gasperini deployed Roma in a 3–4–1–2 formation. Ghilardi's emergency shift proved effective, earning him marks of 7.5 from Corriere dello Sport, 6.5 from Gazzetta dello Sport, 7 from Messaggero, and 7 from Tempo. Mile Svilar received ratings ranging from 6.5 to 7 across the four newspapers. Gianluca Mancini was rated between 6 and 7, while Mario Hermoso earned 6 to 7.5 depending on the outlet. In midfield, Bryan Cristante was graded 6.5 to 8, with Corriere awarding him the highest mark. Manu Koné received 6.5 to 7.5 before being withdrawn at the 67th minute in favour of Niccolò Pisilli. Wesley was rated 6.5 to 7 and was replaced at the 60th minute by Nahuel Molina. Malen's performance drew praise with an 8 from Gazzetta, Messaggero and Tempo, and 8.5 from Corriere. Soulé was marked 6.5 to 7.5 and was substituted at the 60th minute for Mora, who received 6.5 to 7. Paulo Dybala earned 6.5 to 7.5 before departing at the 84th minute for Marten de Roon. Gasperini received ratings of 7.5 to 8 for his management.

Roma made a perfect start to the 2026-27 season with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Lecce on matchday two, but transfer speculation threatens to overshadow their early form. Donyell Malen scored twice to reach five goals in just two matches, with Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora also on the scoresheet. Roma have now won both their opening fixtures by 4-0, having beaten Fiorentina on their league debut, without conceding a goal across eight goals scored. The comfort on the pitch is complicated by interest from English clubs in midfielder Manu Koné. Following sustained approaches from Manchester United, Chelsea have now stepped forward with a firm offer, strengthened by funds from the sale of Enzo Fernandez. The Blues are preparing an offer in Premier League format that Roma may find difficult to refuse. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini regards Koné as a fundamental pillar of his midfield and does not wish to lose him mid-season. However, the final decision rests with owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin. After the substantial investment the Friedkin Group has made over the summer, they may consider a high-profile sale if Chelsea's bid is deemed irresistible. The coming 24 hours will be decisive in determining whether Roma can secure Koné until the end of the transfer window.

Roma face a transfer impasse as Stuttgart's Jamie Leweling delays his decision to move to the Stadio Olimpico. Gian Piero Gasperini has requested an attacking winger, and the club has reached a broad agreement with Stuttgart in principle, but Leweling has not yet given his final approval to the transfer. The deadlock is testing the patience of the Roma fanbase and has prompted reactions from the entertainment world. Damiano David, the singer and former frontman of Måneskin, has publicly commented on the situation with his characteristic humour. David, a lifelong Roma supporter, posted on X in response to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio's coverage, describing Leweling's hesitation with the quip: "What a stinker." The comment quickly circulated online and drew support from numerous fans. This is not David's first public expression of opinion on Roma's transfer activity; he had commented only weeks earlier on the arrival of young prospect Rodrigo Mora with the remark: "It makes me want to cry." Roma's hierarchy and coaching staff share the frustration. The closing stages of the transfer window present the club with two routes forward: either unlock the Leweling deal or decisively pursue alternative targets to provide Gasperini with the attacking reinforcement he has demanded.

Negotiations over Christoph Leweling's transfer to Roma remain deadlocked, with the Stuttgart forward yet to agree to a move despite the club having reached a broad agreement on terms. Damiano David, the former Maneskin frontman, took to social media to criticise the impasse, posting: "Sto puzzone" — a barbed jab at the attacker's reluctance. David, a known Roma supporter, had previously commented on the summer arrival of Rodrigo Mora with the words: "Mi viene da piangere" (It makes me want to cry). With the transfer window closing, Roma and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini remain hopeful that Leweling will be the attacking addition they are pursuing in the final days of the market.

Roma hammered Lecce 4–0 to claim three points in a one-sided fixture, with Donyell Malen producing a standout performance. Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora also found the net. Emanuele Lulli delivered a strong display in defence, while Daniele Ghilardi emerged as an unexpected highlight after being drafted in at short notice due to Evan N'Dicka's absence. Gasperini deployed Roma in a 3–4–1–2 formation. Ghilardi's emergency shift proved effective, earning him marks of 7.5 from Corriere dello Sport, 6.5 from Gazzetta dello Sport, 7 from Messaggero, and 7 from Tempo. Mile Svilar received ratings ranging from 6.5 to 7 across the four newspapers. Gianluca Mancini was rated between 6 and 7, while Mario Hermoso earned 6 to 7.5 depending on the outlet. In midfield, Bryan Cristante was graded 6.5 to 8, with Corriere awarding him the highest mark. Manu Koné received 6.5 to 7.5 before being withdrawn at the 67th minute in favour of Niccolò Pisilli. Wesley was rated 6.5 to 7 and was replaced at the 60th minute by Nahuel Molina. Malen's performance drew praise with an 8 from Gazzetta, Messaggero and Tempo, and 8.5 from Corriere. Soulé was marked 6.5 to 7.5 and was substituted at the 60th minute for Mora, who received 6.5 to 7. Paulo Dybala earned 6.5 to 7.5 before departing at the 84th minute for Marten de Roon. Gasperini received ratings of 7.5 to 8 for his management.

Gian Piero Gasperini will return to Lecce on 31 August having twice visited the Via del Mare in circumstances that left deep frustration. On both occasions—after Roma victories at Lecce and later at the Olimpico—Gasperini skipped the post-match press conferences, his silence masking mounting tensions over the club's transfer activity and squad injuries. The January 2025 visit came during a transfer window when Roma desperately sought a striker; Evan Ferguson scored in a 2–0 win but suffered an ankle injury weeks later, while Artem Dovbyk also scored before injury forced him to undergo surgery. Gasperini's frustration centred on sporting director Massara, whom he felt was moving too slowly in the market, particularly in securing a left winger with a right foot—a need that persists to this day. The tensions that erupted at Lecce deepened significantly after Roma travelled to Turin. Claudio Ranieri was appointed to stabilize the situation, but the arrival of another authority figure widened the rift rather than healed it. Massara and then Ranieri departed; Gasperini ultimately secured the head coach position. The squad then delivered an exceptional run of form that culminated in third place and qualification for the Champions League. The manager's mood has improved substantially since those turbulent January weeks. According to reporting by Alessandro Angeloni in Il Messaggero, Gasperini overturned tables at the Via del Mare in his rage and blamed Massara for the slow pace of business. Donyell Malen's arrival in the winter window proved transformative, helping to spark the turnaround. Roma arrive in Lecce having rebuilt their trajectory and secured European football at the continent's highest level.

The Champions League league-phase draw on 27 August paired Roma with eight opponents across the competition's opening phase, featuring two former Roma managers now in charge of Europe's elite: José Mourinho at Real Madrid and Luis Enrique at Paris Saint-Germain. The draw shapes Roma's European path from 8 September to 27 January under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Roma's return to the Champions League comes after seven seasons away. Real Madrid and PSG, both seeded in the first pot, headline the fixture list. From the second pot, Roma drew Sporting Lisbon (home), Manchester United (away at Old Trafford), Fenerbahçe (away), and AEK Athens (away). Lille and Slovan Bratislava complete the eight, both at home. The tie against Lille offers a potential redemption: Roma missed three penalties in last season's Europa League fixture against the French club, including a double failure by Artem Dovbyk and another by Matías Soulé. Mourinho will return to the Stadio Olimpico with Real Madrid. The draw has constructed a fixture list combining Roma's ambitions in European football's premier competition with the nostalgic dimension of facing two managers who shaped the club's recent history—Mourinho's tenure yielding markedly different results from Luis Enrique's time in Rome.

Roma's return to the UEFA Champions League after seven seasons will be marked by two fixtures against former managers. The league-phase draw, made on 27 August 2026, paired Roma with José Mourinho's Real Madrid and Luis Enrique's Paris Saint-Germain—both first-tier opponents. Real Madrid will visit the Olimpico, bringing Mourinho back before Roma's supporters for the first time since his departure. The fixture calendar and exact dates will be announced on 29 August. Gasperini's side qualified for the competition by finishing third in Serie A last season. The draw has given them eight opponents across the league phase, which runs from 8 September to 27 January. Beyond the two former managers, Roma face a testing itinerary: they will host Sporting Lisbon and Lille, travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, and also play away fixtures at Fenerbahçe and AEK Athens. Slovan Bratislava completes the home fixtures. The clash against Lille offers Roma a chance for redemption after last season's Europa League campaign. They suffered three penalty misses in that competition against the French side: Artem Dovbyk failed twice, followed by an error from Matías Soulé. Roma's European journey will test whether Gasperini can navigate both the grandeur of the Champions League stage and the emotional weight of facing Mourinho and Luis Enrique.