AS Roma secured a 1-0 victory over Fiorentina in their Serie A opener with a goal from Donyell Malen, a result instantly shrouded in controversy over a refereeing decision. The buildup to the winning goal featured a challenge between Mario Hermoso and Franco Mastantuono that was deemed legal by referee Simone Marcenaro and the VAR team led by Marco Di Bello, as reported by Virgilio Sport.
What happened in the goal's buildup
In their own half, Mario Hermoso created space from Franco Mastantuono's tight marking with an arm movement that made contact with the Fiorentina player's face. Referee Marcenaro allowed play to continue. The ball found Paulo Dybala, who drove forward rapidly on the right flank before feeding Malen in the box. The Dutchman fooled his marker with a feint and beat David De Gea from close range, making it 1-0. The immediate reaction from the Viola players was to protest to the official.
Why the VAR did not intervene
According to analysis from DAZN's refereeing expert Luca Marelli, the contact between Hermoso and Mastantuono did constitute a foul. "The foul is there," Marelli stated during the broadcast. He explained that the VAR room likely felt it shouldn't overturn Marcenaro's on-field judgment, considering the phase of play too far from goal. Marelli added, however, that in his view "all the conditions were there" for an intervention. Panorama journalist Giovanni Capuano was more critical on X, writing: "Malen's goal is clearly tainted by an obvious foul on Mastantuono. Assuming the Var is still good for anything."
The context of the first Serie A matchday
The Roma-Fiorentina match was not the only controversial incident from the opening round. Other debated episodes occurred, including a goal allowed in Genoa-Napoli and a penalty not awarded to Milan against Torino. This cluster of contentious decisions has reignited debate about the use of technology and the standards of Italian officials. The win gives Daniele De Rossi's team three important early points as they face a demanding start to the season with the aim of returning to the Champions League. The upcoming schedule can be seen on our fixtures page.
How the squad is positioned after the win
The three points allow Roma to start the campaign in a useful position, although the standings are obviously still very long. The Giallorossi showed defensive solidity, keeping a clean sheet despite late pressure from Fiorentina. Malen, who arrived on loan from Borussia Dortmund in the summer window, proved decisive immediately. His addition to an attacking department already featuring Dybala and Lukaku adds quality and depth. The full squad roster can be viewed on our squad page.
The refereeing discussion will dominate headlines in the coming days, but for Roma the priority is having closed the match with a victory. The positive result provides momentum ahead of the next challenges, where consistent performance will be essential for the season's objectives. The team must now focus on preparing for the next match, working on both the positive aspects shown and those needing improvement.
