Roma's explosive start: only 2021–22 saw more goals in opening two matches

Roma secured their second consecutive victory in Serie A's second matchday with a goal from Donyell Malen that withstood a VAR check. Referee Chiffi, assisted by VAR official Di Paolo, reviewed the opening goal in the fourth minute and confirmed it was lawful. Paulo Dybala was in a legal position when he touched the ball before Malen capitalised on a fortunate rebound to finish. The match saw Chiffi take charge with Imperiale and Cecconi as assistant referees, Di Bello as fourth official, and Paganessi as assistant VAR. Roma's second consecutive win maintains their strong start to the 2026–27 campaign.

Roma will face more than just Lecce when they travel to the Via del Mare for the second round of Serie A fixtures. Temperatures are expected to reach 32 degrees Celsius with 70% humidity at kickoff, with only a modest improvement forecast over the following two hours as conditions settle around 30 degrees during the match itself. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged the challenge before the fixture, expressing concern about the heat. "Abnormal heat, we've been carrying it for a few months now," he said. "We hope that this doesn't come at the expense of our performance and the spectacle for the fans." The contest will double as an exercise in energy management, with extreme temperatures posing a significant tactical consideration for both sides.

Evan N'Dicka was forced to leave Roma's warm-up before their away fixture at Lecce after suffering a right adductor problem, leaving Gasperini without his key centre-back for the match. The Ivorian defender was withdrawn from the pitch and replaced in the pre-match activation by Daniele Ghilardi, who joined the first-team group to complete his preparation on the field. The absence presents a significant challenge for Gasperini in his first away match of the campaign, as N'Dicka has been Roma's top centre-back this season.