Malen's ruthless form continues at Lecce; Koné uncertainty as Chelsea circle

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 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.

Roma defeated Lecce 4-0 in Serie A's second matchday, extending their perfect start to the season with a dominant display. Donyell Malen scored twice in the opening 23 minutes, capitalising on defensive lapses from the hosts to put the contest beyond doubt early on. Matías Soulé added a third before half-time, while Rodrigo Mora completed the rout in the second half with his first Serie A goal. The victory follows Roma's 4-0 win over Fiorentina in their opening fixture. Gasperini's side now sit level on points with Inter, Juventus, Milan and Lazio at the top of the table with perfect records, but lead the standings on goal difference with 8 goals scored and none conceded. Malen has now signed five goals across the opening two league matches. The midfielder's contribution has been central to Roma's attacking prowess in these opening fixtures, with the attacking unit functioning at a high level across both matches.

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 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 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.

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 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.

Roma defeated Lecce 4-0 in Serie A's second matchday, extending their perfect start to the season with a dominant display. Donyell Malen scored twice in the opening 23 minutes, capitalising on defensive lapses from the hosts to put the contest beyond doubt early on. Matías Soulé added a third before half-time, while Rodrigo Mora completed the rout in the second half with his first Serie A goal. The victory follows Roma's 4-0 win over Fiorentina in their opening fixture. Gasperini's side now sit level on points with Inter, Juventus, Milan and Lazio at the top of the table with perfect records, but lead the standings on goal difference with 8 goals scored and none conceded. Malen has now signed five goals across the opening two league matches. The midfielder's contribution has been central to Roma's attacking prowess in these opening fixtures, with the attacking unit functioning at a high level across both matches.