AS Roma kicked off the 2026-27 Serie A season with a commanding 4-0 victory over Fiorentina, powered by a Donyell Malen hat-trick and three assists from Paulo Dybala. The match, played at the Stadio Olimpico on August 24, propelled the Giallorossi to 2nd place in the standings with 3 points and a +4 goal difference, three points behind leaders AC Milan.
According to a report by sports.yahoo.com, the two attackers were among the top performers of the entire first round. Major Italian sports papers awarded their displays with average ratings of 8.5 for Malen and 8 for Dybala. This success follows a pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund played on August 15 at Signal Iduna Park and sets the stage for the next away fixture against 5th-placed Lecce.
How did Dybala and Malen play?
Paulo Dybala orchestrated Roma's attacking play, providing the final pass for all three of Donyell Malen's goals. His vision and passing accuracy dismantled the Fiorentina defense. Malen, for his part, showed ruthless finishing by converting the chances created by his teammate into a perfect hat-trick. Their combination was the main engine behind the comprehensive home win.
This lethal understanding has instantly given Roma's attack an identity for the new campaign. The manager must now cope with the absence of Lorenzo Pellegrini, currently sidelined alongside Devyne Rensch, but the forward duo's output provides a solid foundation. The team boasts an attack that has already scored 4 goals with none conceded, a stat that places them among the best defenses after one round.
Who were the other standout performers?
The opening Serie A weekend saw other players shine beyond Roma's duo. Inter's Pio Esposito was decisive in the 4-1 win over Monza on August 22, scoring a backheel goal and providing an assist. Napoli's Antonio Vergara, coming off the bench, scored and assisted in the controversial 2-0 win against Genoa.
Lazio's Davide Frattesi also made an impact as a substitute, scoring the winning goal away at Bologna's Dall'Ara stadium. Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli), Adrien Rabiot (Milan), and Alessandro Romano (Cagliari) complete the list of the round's best players identified by the report. A league start packed with high-level individual performances.
What are Roma's immediate prospects?
Daniele De Rossi's side now prepares for the second matchday, an away fixture against Lecce scheduled for August 31. The 4-0 win provides a solid base of confidence and points in the standings, but the schedule promises immediate challenges. Maintaining this offensive rhythm will be the primary task.
With 3 points in the bag and second place, Roma has shown it can compete for high objectives. The next match against 5th-placed Lecce will be a first away test. Fans can track squad updates and fitness concerns on our squad and injuries pages. The goal is to consolidate this excellent start and stay in touch with the top.
