Now, that’s the way to start a new season! With Roma working the phones all weekend, sewing up a loan for Fenerbahçe’s Jayden Oosterwolde and continuing to track down Gian Piero Gasperini’s elusive left-winger, the club would’ve been forgiven for coming out a bit distracted in today’s season opener against Fiorentina. And that’s before even discussing the last-minute loss of Nahuel Molina and Rodrigo Mora’s debut days after being signed from Porto.
But rather than resting on their laurels and waiting
for the match to come to them, Roma seized the initiative, putting Fiorentina on the back foot almost immediately. Led by Paulo Dybala, who played like a man possessed throughout the match, Roma dominated the first 20 minutes. With Dybala’s effortless movement, Rodrigo Mora’s close control, and forward runs from Evan Ndicka, Roma peppered David de Gea with five shots on goal in the first 20 minutes.
With Roma pressing high up the pitch, Fiorentina had no escape, no outlet, and virtually no hope of keeping the Giallorossi out of the final third. It was the kind of performance Gasperini had imposed on Roma many times during his tenure at Atalanta.
Still, pressure and good intentions don’t mean anything without goals to back them up—and Roma had them in spades tonight.
In the first of three Dybala-to-Malen moments, the 32-year-old maestro sucked up four defenders as he dribbled across the box. Thanks to the attention he commanded and the space he created, Dybala had a gimme assist, laying the ball off to Malen near the penalty spot, who beat de Gea with a clever little heel drag, essentially dribbling behind his back to shake loose from Dodo.
And amazingly, that was all it took. Roma coasted for the balance of the first half but continued to mount pressure on Grosso and the Viola, with Dybala and Malen linking up two more times in the second half, including this tight-angled beauty from Malen:
After an inch-perfect pass over the top from Mario Hermoso to Dybala, Malen drove right at Radu Dragusin before beating de Gea with a rocket at the near post. The two would link up again in the 60th minute, with Dybala notching his third assist of the match, setting up the Dutchman with a square ball after making a near post run to de Gea’s left.
Gasperini would empty the bench in the second half, giving club debuts to Santiago Castro and Konstantinos Koulierakis before bringing Neil El Aynaoui and Niccolo Pisilli into the fray in the 79th minute. Pisilli would make his mark in the 86th minute, capitalizing on a deflected ball in the box.
Final Thoughts
After a frustrating summer on the transfer market, with multiple failed transfers making it feel like the club itself was getting worse, this was exactly the kind of performance Roma needed to remind everyone of how exceptional they can be this season. Between Malen, Dybala and Mora, Roma played with poise, precision and grace, while Ndicka, Hermoso and Gianluca Mancini suffocated the Viola attack, limiting them to only eight touches in the final third.
If Tony D’Amico can add the final flourishes to this squad over the next week or so, we may be in for an incredibly exciting season.
Up Next
Another Monday nighter as Roma faces Lecce on the road
