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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Roma 4-0 Fiorentina
Malen 27′, 52′, 60′, Pisilli 86′
