Donyell Malen Draws Gianluca Vialli Comparison After Brace For Roma Against Cagliari

Roma moved level on points with Juventus in the Serie A top-four race after a 2-0 home victory over Cagliari, built around a brace from on-loan forward Donyell Malen, whose display prompted Gian Piero Gasperini to draw a striking comparison with former Italy and Sampdoria striker Gianluca Vialli.

Malen struck in each half at Stadio Olimpico, taking the Netherlands international to three goals in four Serie A appearances for Roma, just one fewer than the total across 21 Premier League games for Aston Villa in the 2025-26 season, highlighting a sharp early impact in Italy.

The latest win means Roma have claimed 15 victories from their first 24 Serie A fixtures, something achieved only twice before in club history, during the 1985-86 and 2007-08

campaigns, when Roma ended both seasons in second place, underlining the significance of their current league position.

The match also continued Roma’s strong defensive trend, as the clean sheet against Cagliari was the 11th in their opening 24 league games this season, a figure bettered only by Inter with 13 and Como with 12, while six of Roma’s shutouts have come at Stadio Olimpico.

Roma’s home defensive numbers this season compare closely with Cesc Fabregas’ Como, who have registered seven clean sheets on their own ground, giving them the strongest home record in Serie A by that metric, with Roma sitting just one behind after the solid display against Cagliari.

Malen opened the scoring on 25 minutes when a rapid run split the Cagliari back line and ended with a delicate chip over Elia Caprile, then, just after the hour, Malen arrived at the near post to convert from close range after meeting an accurate low cross from Zeki Celik on the right.

Post-match, discussion quickly turned to Malen’s playing style, as questions compared the Roma loanee with both Gianluca Vialli and Netherlands great Marco van Basten, though Malen himself dismissed such parallels, while Gasperini reflected in more detail on which Serie A legend the forward most closely resembles.

Gasperini highlighted how Malen’s movement echoes Vialli’s approach inside the penalty area rather than Van Basten’s, stressing the importance of off-ball work. "Van Basten was physically very different too, but I do see more similarities with Vialli," Gaspenini added. "In his power, the movement to shake off markers, diagonal runs attacking the space, there is something in the Vialli mould. "

Assessing Malen’s scoring potential over the rest of the season, Gasperini expressed confidence that Roma’s system could maximise the Dutch forward’s strengths. "I am convinced he will score a ton of goals this season, so we must know how to give him the right service for his characteristics," Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia.

Gasperini also underlined the extra attacking dimension Malen has introduced since arriving in January. "We've got thequality in the attack that is difficult to contain now, as he has a vast repertoire. " That wider range of options in advanced areas appears central to Roma’s push for Champions League qualification.

Roma’s broader situation in the league remains tight, with the team now fifth in Serie A, level on points with Juventus in fourth, while Napoli and Milan stay in close proximity, Inter have opened a gap at the top, and Atalanta and Como remain within touching distance behind Roma.

Gasperini described how Roma view their place among those rivals. "We always try to be up to the standards of our rivals," Gasperini said. "We have caught Juventus, while Napoli and Milan are there, Inter have gone by now, I think, Atalanta and Como are not far behind us. "

The Roma coach stressed that maintaining a strong position after 24 league rounds is useful only if the team continue to evolve. "If we are up there after 24 rounds, that is important, but we want to keep growing in attack. The arrival of Malen certainly gives us much more. "

In discussing squad depth, Gasperini pointed to injuries and the need for reliable attackers. "Now we hope to get some of the players back from injury, but it's undeniable you need a prolific and efficient set of forwards, otherwise you will not achieve your targets. " Those comments reflected Roma’s intention to sustain their current level.

#ASRoma #RomaCagliari pic.twitter.com/YO1sM5L900AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) February 10, 2026

Across the night, Malen’s brace, the comparison with Vialli, Roma’s 15th league win of the season and an 11th clean sheet all underlined why Gasperini views the January additions, and especially Malen, as crucial to maintaining Roma’s challenge near the top of the Serie A table.