Roma Secures Dominant 4-0 Victory Over Fiorentina in Serie A Opener
Donyell Malen netted a hat-trick, with every goal provided by Paulo Dybala, while Nicolo Pisilli also found the net as Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma comfortably defeated Fiorentina in the opening match of the Serie A season at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday evening.
This match marked Fabio Grosso’s debut as head coach of Fiorentina, stepping in for Paolo Vanoli, who managed to keep the team clear of relegation last season.
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Gasperini opted for a familiar 3-4-2-1 formation, with Mile Svilar guarding the net behind a defensive line comprised of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N’Dicka, and Mario Hermoso. Youngster Emanuele Lulli assumed the role of right wing-back, while Dybala and Rodrigo Mora supported Malen upfront. Grosso countered with a 4-3-2-1 formation featuring David de Gea in goal and Mateo Pellegrino as the forward, supported by Real Madrid loanee Franco Mastantuono. Roma were without Devyne Rensch and Lorenzo Pellegrini, while Fiorentina missed Fabiano Parisi.
Notably absent from the Fiorentina starting lineup was striker Moise Kean, who began the match on the bench amid links to Como. Sporting director Fabio Paratici emphasized that there was no requirement to sell the striker.
You can see how the action unfolded on the Football Italia Liveblog.
Roma show prowess against revamped Fiorentina
The match began energetically, with Pellegrino pushing down the left flank before N’Dicka’s intervention led to a corner for Fiorentina, which they squandered. Roma quickly countered, with Dybala and Mora combining before Mora tested De Gea from a distance.
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Roma adopted a high-pressing game and focused their attacks through the center, while Fiorentina struggled to create opportunities. Mastantuono often brought the ball forward, but support was lacking with only Pellegrino ahead. Marco Brescianini’s long-range shot in the 12th minute posed no threat as Svilar easily gathered.
Two minutes later, Malen and Wesley made a push on the left side, with the cross finding Dybala, who volleyed over the bar. Mora forced a good save from De Gea after Lulli had done well to dispossess Arthur Atta.
Roma thought they had scored first in the 20th minute when Hermoso found the net following a flick-on from N’Dicka, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
The first goal came in the 27th minute, showcasing the chemistry between Dybala and Malen. The Dutch forward remained composed, slotting the ball past De Gea.
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Fiorentina’s Nicolo Fagioli received a yellow card for a rough tackle on Dybala in the half-hour mark, with Hermoso following suit for a cynical foul on Mastantuono as Fiorentina attempted to counter. Two minutes were added, but the visitors walked off at halftime without significant offensive contributions.
ROME, ITALY – AUGUST 24: Donyell Malen of AS Roma scores his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico on August 24, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
After the break, Fiorentina’s only notable player was Mastantuono, who earned a free-kick that he shot over the bar and drew a yellow card from Manu Kone with a quick run into the Roma half.
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Roma solidified their lead in the 52nd minute when Malen received the ball from Dybala, made his way into the box, and hammered the ball into the roof of the net. Gasperini then substituted Mora for Matias Soule shortly after.
Malen’s penalty appeal in the 55th minute went unanswered, and his low strike from range sailed just wide three minutes later, but he completed his hat-trick on the hour-mark, with Dybala setting him up for his third assist of the night.
In response, Grosso made a trio of substitutions in the 63rd minute, bringing on Alex Jimenez, Christ Inao Oulai, and Kean to replace Brescianini, Fagioli, and Mastantuono.
At this juncture, Roma enjoyed 61 percent possession, took 17 shots compared to Fiorentina’s nine, and amassed 39 touches inside the Fiorentina box against their opponents’ four.
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In the final twenty minutes, Fiorentina showed some life, bolstered by the entries of Kean and Oulai. However, despite their efforts, they could not stop Roma from securing a clean sheet.
Roma capped off their impressive performance with a fourth goal when substitute Nicolo Pisilli scored late in the match.
The outcome sees Roma join other eight teams that won their opening fixtures of the season, with only one matchday draw recorded between Como and Udinese.
DORTMUND, GERMANY – AUGUST 15: Paulo Dybala of AS Roma runs with the ball during the pre-season friendly match between Borussia Dortmund and AS Roma at Signal Iduna Park on August 15, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
Final Score: Roma 4-0 Fiorentina
Malen 27′, 52′, 60′, Pisilli 86′
Donyell Malen scored a hat-trick, every goal laid on by Paulo Dybala, and Nicolo Pisilli scored as Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma pulled clear of Fiorentina in the closing fixture of the Serie A opening weekend at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday evening.
This was Fabio Grosso’s first competitive match in charge of Fiorentina, the former Italy full-back having replaced Paolo Vanoli in the summer despite the latter steering the Viola clear of relegation.
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Gasperini went with his familiar 3-4-2-1, Mile Svilar behind a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N’Dicka and Mario Hermoso, and youngster Emanuele Lulli handed the right wing-back role. Dybala and Rodrigo Mora played behind Malen. Grosso countered with a 4-3-2-1 built around David de Gea in goal and Mateo Pellegrino leading the line, with Real Madrid loanee Franco Mastantuono in support. Devyne Rensch and Lorenzo Pellegrini were unavailable to Roma, Fabiano Parisi to Fiorentina.
There was no Moise Kean in the Fiorentina XI, the striker starting on the bench amid links to Como. Sporting director Fabio Paratici had insisted before kick-off that the Viola have no need to sell.
You can see how the action unfolded on the Football Italia Liveblog.
Roma make light work of new-look Fiorentina
The opening exchanges were lively, Pellegrino getting down the left before N’Dicka’s intervention conceded a corner, but the pattern established itself quickly. Fiorentina wasted that set piece and Roma broke, Dybala combining with Mora before testing De Gea from distance.
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Roma pressed high and attacked centrally, and Fiorentina looked short of bodies going forward, Mastantuono repeatedly carrying the ball through midfield with only Pellegrino ahead of him. Marco Brescianini’s speculative long-range effort on 12 minutes was comfortably held by Svilar and represented the visitors’ first attempt.
Malen and Wesley worked the left two minutes later, the cross finding Dybala, whose volley cleared the bar. Mora then forced a good save from De Gea after Lulli had done well to shepherd Arthur Atta away from danger.
Roma thought they had the lead on 20 minutes when Hermoso poked home from close range following N’Dicka’s flick-on, but the Spaniard was offside.
The breakthrough arrived seven minutes later and came from the source that would define the evening. Dybala and Malen linked, and the Dutchman stayed composed to slide the finish beyond De Gea.
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Nicolo Fagioli was booked for a poor challenge on Dybala on the half-hour, and Hermoso followed on 39 minutes for a cynical foul on Mastantuono as Fiorentina countered. Two minutes were added, but the visitors reached the break without creating anything of substance.
ROME, ITALY – AUGUST 24: Donyell Malen of AS Roma scores his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico on August 24, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Mastantuono was Fiorentina’s only real outlet after the restart, winning a free-kick that he then fired well over, and drawing a booking from Manu Kone with a run into the Roma half.
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Any lingering doubt disappeared on 52 minutes. Malen collected from Dybala, drove into the box and lashed his finish into the roof of the net. Gasperini withdrew Mora, who had impressed on debut, for Matias Soule shortly afterwards.
Malen was denied a penalty appeal on 55 minutes and dragged a low effort just wide from outside the area three minutes later, but the hat-trick came on the hour. Dybala provided again, this time on a plate, for his third assist of the night.
Grosso responded with a triple change on 63 minutes, Alex Jimenez, Christ Inao Oulai and Kean replacing Brescianini, Fagioli and Mastantuono.
By that point Roma had 61 per cent possession, 17 shots to nine, and 39 touches in the Fiorentina box against the visitors’ four.
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The last twenty minutes saw Fiorentina perk up a little, boosted by the introductions of Kean and Oulai. However, the Viola were not able to deny Roma the clean sheet.
Finally, Roma put Fiorentina to the sword when substitute Nicolo Pisilli scored late on.
The result sees Roma join the other eight sides who won their opening game of the season – with just one draw in the first matchday between Como and Udinese.
DORTMUND, GERMANY – AUGUST 15: Paulo Dybala of AS Roma runs with the ball during the pre-season friendly match between Borussia Dortmund and AS Roma at Signal Iduna Park on August 15, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
Roma 4-0 Fiorentina
Malen 27′, 52′, 60′, Pisilli 86′
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