One-two-three goals: Malen emerges as Gasperini's dream striker

Roma have conceded three of their four goals this season in the opening quarter-hour of the second half, a troubling pattern that has become impossible to ignore. Lautaro Martinez's goal in the most recent league match marked the third instance of a problem that demands urgent correction. At the start of second halves, Roma struggle to reset with the right intensity, leaving themselves exposed to opposition momentum in the first moments after the restart. The vulnerability extends beyond this season. Last year Roma conceded twelve goals in the first eleven minutes of the second half—one in 2025 and eleven in 2026. In Serie A alone, nine of the club's thirty-one total goals conceded came during that same window, representing roughly one-third of their passive defensive output. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini, attentive to the squad's mental approach across all ninety minutes, cannot dismiss this pattern as mere coincidence. The technical staff will work to ensure maximum concentration when the players return from the dressing room.

Donyell Malen has become Roma's ideal centre-forward under Gian Piero Gasperini's guidance this season. The 27-year-old Dutch forward, now operating centrally rather than from the wing as he did at Aston Villa, has formed a complementary partnership with Paulo Dybala that echoes Roma's great attacking pairings of the past—Pruzzo with Falcao, Conti, and Totti with Batistuta. While shy and reserved away from the pitch, Malen transforms into an unstoppable force once play begins, combining precise coordination, a devastating first step, and clinical finishing. Gasperini deserves credit for identifying Malen's finishing potential and repositioning him closer to goal. The repositioning from the wing to a more advanced attacking role has made him the driving force of Roma's offensive system. Malen's statistics underline his impact: he is averaging a goal every 58 minutes played and maintains a frequency of at least two shots on target per match. This efficiency demonstrates the effectiveness of Gasperini's tactical adjustment and the quality Malen brings to the Giallorossi attack.

Former Roma striker Abel Balbo has backed the club's ambitions this season, singling out Donyell Malen as a key player capable of driving a Scudetto challenge. Speaking to Il Messaggero, Balbo praised Roma as "beautiful to watch, entertaining and getting results," adding that they are "the only team that can compete for the title" alongside Inter, whom he still rates as "superior because they have a more complete squad." Balbo, who scored 87 goals across five consecutive seasons of double figures for Roma, drew particular praise for Malen's attacking prowess. "He is a simple and effective player, and the most difficult thing in football is to play with simplicity—he does it better than anyone," Balbo explained. "He is fast, moves well, attacks space, sees goal easily. He is very strong. He scores goals the way the great strikers do." Balbo noted Malen's ability to find the net in multiple ways, citing his recently scored goal against Torino as an example of a striker's pragmatism: "A forward doesn't care how he puts the ball in the net—what matters is to score and achieve the objective." Balbo also assessed whether Malen could surpass the 36-goal record held by Higuain and Immobile, saying: "It is difficult to maintain this goal average, but if others have managed it, why can't he? I hope he does, because if he succeeds it means Roma would either be on the verge of winning the title or actually win it." He praised Paulo Dybala as "a champion who always improves," noting that "this season he is doing extraordinary work; with him on the pitch the team runs better. He is magic and fantasy." Balbo also highlighted Roma's Argentine contingent as a strength, saying the players "have the character and quality that allow them to have a winning mentality they pass on to the group."

Donyell Malen has become Roma's ideal centre-forward under Gian Piero Gasperini's guidance this season. The 27-year-old Dutch forward, now operating centrally rather than from the wing as he did at Aston Villa, has formed a complementary partnership with Paulo Dybala that echoes Roma's great attacking pairings of the past—Pruzzo with Falcao, Conti, and Totti with Batistuta. While shy and reserved away from the pitch, Malen transforms into an unstoppable force once play begins, combining precise coordination, a devastating first step, and clinical finishing. Gasperini deserves credit for identifying Malen's finishing potential and repositioning him closer to goal. The repositioning from the wing to a more advanced attacking role has made him the driving force of Roma's offensive system. Malen's statistics underline his impact: he is averaging a goal every 58 minutes played and maintains a frequency of at least two shots on target per match. This efficiency demonstrates the effectiveness of Gasperini's tactical adjustment and the quality Malen brings to the Giallorossi attack.

Rodrigo Mora arrived at Roma this summer from Porto with significant expectations, but has had to earn his place in the opening weeks of the season, alternating with Matías Soulé to complete the attacking trio alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. By the first international break, Mora has made five appearances across Serie A and the Champions League, totalling 187 minutes — roughly two complete matches. Gasperini expects Mora to provide the attacking support and goals the forward line needs, particularly to ease the burden on Malen's shoulders. Although Mora has time to develop and improve, Roma will demand stronger performances from him when the squad returns from the break. The club faces a demanding schedule: nine matches — including three Champions League fixtures — across 27 days, starting with fixtures against Como and Sassuolo. Mora, like every other squad member, will have sufficient minutes to demonstrate his value during this crucial period.

Former Roma striker Abel Balbo has backed the club's ambitions this season, singling out Donyell Malen as a key player capable of driving a Scudetto challenge. Speaking to Il Messaggero, Balbo praised Roma as "beautiful to watch, entertaining and getting results," adding that they are "the only team that can compete for the title" alongside Inter, whom he still rates as "superior because they have a more complete squad." Balbo, who scored 87 goals across five consecutive seasons of double figures for Roma, drew particular praise for Malen's attacking prowess. "He is a simple and effective player, and the most difficult thing in football is to play with simplicity—he does it better than anyone," Balbo explained. "He is fast, moves well, attacks space, sees goal easily. He is very strong. He scores goals the way the great strikers do." Balbo noted Malen's ability to find the net in multiple ways, citing his recently scored goal against Torino as an example of a striker's pragmatism: "A forward doesn't care how he puts the ball in the net—what matters is to score and achieve the objective." Balbo also assessed whether Malen could surpass the 36-goal record held by Higuain and Immobile, saying: "It is difficult to maintain this goal average, but if others have managed it, why can't he? I hope he does, because if he succeeds it means Roma would either be on the verge of winning the title or actually win it." He praised Paulo Dybala as "a champion who always improves," noting that "this season he is doing extraordinary work; with him on the pitch the team runs better. He is magic and fantasy." Balbo also highlighted Roma's Argentine contingent as a strength, saying the players "have the character and quality that allow them to have a winning mentality they pass on to the group."

Francesco Totti has disclosed in his autobiography *Oltre* that AS Roma attempted to persuade him to present Paulo Dybala with the number 10 shirt during the Argentine's official unveiling. In the summer when Dybala arrived at the club, Roma conveyed the request indirectly to Totti, but he rejected it firmly. "The response was blunt: 'Are you all mad?'" Totti explained. "If you have the courage, give it to him yourselves. Nothing against the player—I like him very much, as a person too. He's a fine lad. If you have this intention, go ahead, without dragging me into it." Rather than expose himself to comparisons with Totti's legacy, Dybala chose the number 21 instead. Totti reiterated his respect for the player, saying "Dybala, for me, if he is fit, can make the difference." He also outlined his philosophy on the number 10, Roma's most iconic shirt. "The number 10 jersey of Roma, I would never retire it permanently—that would be like denying a wonderful dream to children. Every day I hope another Totti appears. One born in Rome, raised in Rome, who chooses Roma for life." He drew a distinction between such a candidate and a player arriving from elsewhere: "It would be a different matter to assign that shirt to someone coming from the other side of the world, who stays for a limited period and then leaves. It is a symbol that should be entrusted only to someone who, at least potentially, can play for Roma for fifteen or twenty years."

Lionel Messi has contacted Paulo Dybala to invite him to a special celebratory match marking his official farewell to the Argentina national team, with the Roma forward keen to accept. Messi also wants Nahuel Molina alongside Dybala for the fixture, which will reunite players from Argentina's triumphant 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar. However, the invitation requires approval from Gian Piero Gasperini, Roma's head coach, who must sign off on both players' participation. According to reports, Gasperini is expected to grant clearance for the pair to attend. Molina has made a strong start to the season and has put behind him the uncertainties of the past, while Dybala represents the highest quality in Roma's tactical setup. Any permission from the coach will come with a strict instruction: intelligent management of their fitness and avoidance of any physical strain. Roma face a challenging away trip to Como as they resume their league campaign, followed by a dense block of fixtures. Gasperini is intent on preserving the sharpness of his best players ahead of that demanding schedule.

Donyell Malen has become Roma's ideal centre-forward under Gian Piero Gasperini's guidance this season. The 27-year-old Dutch forward, now operating centrally rather than from the wing as he did at Aston Villa, has formed a complementary partnership with Paulo Dybala that echoes Roma's great attacking pairings of the past—Pruzzo with Falcao, Conti, and Totti with Batistuta. While shy and reserved away from the pitch, Malen transforms into an unstoppable force once play begins, combining precise coordination, a devastating first step, and clinical finishing. Gasperini deserves credit for identifying Malen's finishing potential and repositioning him closer to goal. The repositioning from the wing to a more advanced attacking role has made him the driving force of Roma's offensive system. Malen's statistics underline his impact: he is averaging a goal every 58 minutes played and maintains a frequency of at least two shots on target per match. This efficiency demonstrates the effectiveness of Gasperini's tactical adjustment and the quality Malen brings to the Giallorossi attack.