Roma 1 Fiorentina: Hermoso and Fagioli booked; Malen's opener sparks controversy

Roma's Stadio Olimpico was packed with yellow and red for the opening match of the 2026-27 season against Fiorentina, marking the club's return to the Champions League after seven years. The fixture carries added significance as it launches Roma towards the club's centenary. The Curva Sud ultras showed their backing for Gasperini's squad, displaying a banner that read: "The path is set, we start again from where we left off. The whole environment united towards the objective." Roma's return to Europe's elite club competition after a seven-year absence represents a major milestone. The season will culminate in the club's 100th anniversary celebrations, with the opening fixture against Fiorentina setting the tone for what the support group aims to be a unified campaign. The banner message emphasised continuity and collective purpose as the team prepares to chase their ambitions in both domestic and European competition.

Roma face Fiorentina in what is likely the standout fixture of Serie A's opening weekend on 24 August 2026. The two clubs arrive in starkly different form: Roma finished last season strongly and have been prominent in their ambitions, while Fiorentina struggled with consistency. Both have backed their managers in the transfer window. Gasperini requested reinforcements at Roma and several have arrived; Fiorentina's Grosso has a squad of high calibre following an impressive summer transfer campaign. The match will showcase established players such as Malen and Kean alongside the new faces both clubs have recruited.

Roma begin their 2026-27 campaign against Fiorentina at the Olimpico on 24 August, kicking off at 20:45, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini handing competitive debuts to two players born in 2007. Rodrigo Mora, signed this summer from Porto for €25 million, will start as trequartista ahead of Matías Soulé, operating behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Emanuele Lulli, a product of Roma's academy, will make his Serie A starting debut at full-back in place of Nahuel Molina, who is not fully fit and will begin on the bench. The pairing marks a historic milestone for the club: it is the first time in Roma's history that two players born in 2007 have started together in an official competitive debut. Mora's arrival from the Portuguese club represents a significant investment in attacking depth, while Lulli's promotion offers the academy prospect his first meaningful opportunity to convince Gasperini of his quality at the top level. Lulli, the academy product, and Mora, the Portuguese talent, will both feature from the outset as Roma aim to begin their league season with a win.

Roma begin their 2026-27 campaign against Fiorentina at the Olimpico on 24 August, kicking off at 20:45, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini handing competitive debuts to two players born in 2007. Rodrigo Mora, signed this summer from Porto for €25 million, will start as trequartista ahead of Matías Soulé, operating behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Emanuele Lulli, a product of Roma's academy, will make his Serie A starting debut at full-back in place of Nahuel Molina, who is not fully fit and will begin on the bench. The pairing marks a historic milestone for the club: it is the first time in Roma's history that two players born in 2007 have started together in an official competitive debut. Mora's arrival from the Portuguese club represents a significant investment in attacking depth, while Lulli's promotion offers the academy prospect his first meaningful opportunity to convince Gasperini of his quality at the top level. Lulli, the academy product, and Mora, the Portuguese talent, will both feature from the outset as Roma aim to begin their league season with a win.

Roma begin the 2026-27 Serie A season at home to Fiorentina, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini naming Rodrigo Mora in the attacking midfield role behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Matías Soulé drops to the bench. Lulli makes his competitive debut on the right flank in place of Nahuel Molina, who is not at full fitness; Wesley operates on the left. The defence comprises Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso, with Mile Svilar in goal. Gasperini's 3-4-1-2 formation pairs Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné in midfield. Fiorentina, managed by Grosso, line up in a 4-3-2-1 with David De Gea in goal and Lautaro Pellegrino as their striker. Roma's substitutes bench includes De Marzi, Koulierakis, Ghilardi, Ziółkowski, El Aynaoui, Pisilli, Vaz, Castro, and Soulé.

Roma opened their 2026–27 Serie A campaign with a 1–0 victory over Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico. Donyell Malen scored in the 26th minute after a swift buildup involving Paulo Dybala, who collected the ball on the right wing and cut inside before finding Malen with a through pass; the forward controlled the ball on his left foot and finished past David De Gea from close range. Gian Piero Gasperini's side dominated the opening period, with Dybala spurning two clear chances before Malen's breakthrough. Roma had a goal disallowed in the 20th minute when Mario Hermoso was ruled offside after heading in from an Evan N'Dicka flick following a corner kick. The home team's aggressive approach set the tone early, with Wesley providing dangerous crosses from the left wing and Rodrigo Mora threatening down the opposite flank—the Portuguese winger's performances boosted his standing in the squad hierarchy ahead of the match. Roma named an unchanged defensive line of Mile Svilar, Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, while Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné anchored midfield. Devyne Rensch was unavailable, and Nahuel Molina was reported unfit, forcing Roma to hand a debut to Daniele Ghilardi at right-back. Hermoso received the only Roma booking, a 39th-minute yellow card for a late challenge on Mastantuono. Referee Marco Marcenaro also showed yellow to Fiorentina's Rolando Fagioli in the 30th minute for a hard foul on Dybala at the edge of the box. Fiorentina fielded a 4–3–2–1 under Fabio Grosso, with De Gea making several saves before Malen's goal. Roma's squad included Neil El Aynaoui, Niccolò Pisilli, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro among substitutes.

Roma begin the 2026-27 Serie A season at home to Fiorentina, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini naming Rodrigo Mora in the attacking midfield role behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Matías Soulé drops to the bench. Lulli makes his competitive debut on the right flank in place of Nahuel Molina, who is not at full fitness; Wesley operates on the left. The defence comprises Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso, with Mile Svilar in goal. Gasperini's 3-4-1-2 formation pairs Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné in midfield. Fiorentina, managed by Grosso, line up in a 4-3-2-1 with David De Gea in goal and Lautaro Pellegrino as their striker. Roma's substitutes bench includes De Marzi, Koulierakis, Ghilardi, Ziółkowski, El Aynaoui, Pisilli, Vaz, Castro, and Soulé.

Roma opened their 2026–27 Serie A campaign with a 1–0 victory over Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico. Donyell Malen scored in the 26th minute after a swift buildup involving Paulo Dybala, who collected the ball on the right wing and cut inside before finding Malen with a through pass; the forward controlled the ball on his left foot and finished past David De Gea from close range. Gian Piero Gasperini's side dominated the opening period, with Dybala spurning two clear chances before Malen's breakthrough. Roma had a goal disallowed in the 20th minute when Mario Hermoso was ruled offside after heading in from an Evan N'Dicka flick following a corner kick. The home team's aggressive approach set the tone early, with Wesley providing dangerous crosses from the left wing and Rodrigo Mora threatening down the opposite flank—the Portuguese winger's performances boosted his standing in the squad hierarchy ahead of the match. Roma named an unchanged defensive line of Mile Svilar, Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, while Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné anchored midfield. Devyne Rensch was unavailable, and Nahuel Molina was reported unfit, forcing Roma to hand a debut to Daniele Ghilardi at right-back. Hermoso received the only Roma booking, a 39th-minute yellow card for a late challenge on Mastantuono. Referee Marco Marcenaro also showed yellow to Fiorentina's Rolando Fagioli in the 30th minute for a hard foul on Dybala at the edge of the box. Fiorentina fielded a 4–3–2–1 under Fabio Grosso, with De Gea making several saves before Malen's goal. Roma's squad included Neil El Aynaoui, Niccolò Pisilli, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro among substitutes.

Roma take on Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico at 20:45 in the opening fixture of the Serie A season. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has named a 22-man squad for the match, with all new signings included in the selection. The squad omits Lorenzo Pellegrini and Devyne Rensch. In goal, Gasperini has selected Mile Svilar, Giorgio De Marzi, and Pierluigi Gollini. The defence includes Konstantinos Koulierakis, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Jan Ziółkowski, Wesley, Lulli, and Daniele Ghilardi. Midfield options are Bryan Cristante, Neil El Aynaoui, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli, and Rodrigo Mora. Attacking players named are Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé, Paulo Dybala, and Robinio Vaz.

Pietro Leonardi, the former Parma sporting director and close associate of Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, was among over 65,000 spectators at the Stadio Olimpico for Roma's opening Serie A fixture against Fiorentina on 24 August. Leonardi has long been regarded as Gasperini's principal advisor on transfer matters. According to reports, Leonardi's input influenced Roma's decision to pursue Donyell Malen in January.

Roma face Fiorentina in what is likely the standout fixture of Serie A's opening weekend on 24 August 2026. The two clubs arrive in starkly different form: Roma finished last season strongly and have been prominent in their ambitions, while Fiorentina struggled with consistency. Both have backed their managers in the transfer window. Gasperini requested reinforcements at Roma and several have arrived; Fiorentina's Grosso has a squad of high calibre following an impressive summer transfer campaign. The match will showcase established players such as Malen and Kean alongside the new faces both clubs have recruited.

Roma begin their 2026-27 campaign against Fiorentina at the Olimpico on 24 August, kicking off at 20:45, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini handing competitive debuts to two players born in 2007. Rodrigo Mora, signed this summer from Porto for €25 million, will start as trequartista ahead of Matías Soulé, operating behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Emanuele Lulli, a product of Roma's academy, will make his Serie A starting debut at full-back in place of Nahuel Molina, who is not fully fit and will begin on the bench. The pairing marks a historic milestone for the club: it is the first time in Roma's history that two players born in 2007 have started together in an official competitive debut. Mora's arrival from the Portuguese club represents a significant investment in attacking depth, while Lulli's promotion offers the academy prospect his first meaningful opportunity to convince Gasperini of his quality at the top level. Lulli, the academy product, and Mora, the Portuguese talent, will both feature from the outset as Roma aim to begin their league season with a win.