Serie A: Roma 1-0 Fiorentina - Malen's goal seals opening win

Roma secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Fiorentina in the opening match of the Serie A season, thanks to a goal from Donyell Malen in the 27th minute. The decisive play began with a strong run from Dybala, who cut inside the penalty area before setting up Malen. The striker then finished with a deft backheel, beating De Gea from close range.

Coach Gian Piero Gasperini addressed the team's situation ahead of the match, noting the absence of Lorenzo Pellegrini due to fitness concerns and Devyne Rensch because of a muscle issue. However, four new signings, Koulierakis, Molina, Mora, and Castro, were included in the squad. Gasperini urged his players to forget last season's 73 points and focus on building a competitive squad, acknowledging that two more signings are still needed.

He revealed that Roma's transfer strategy shifted after qualifying for the Champions League, as financial issues persisted. "I thought – and the club thought too – that entering the Champions League would resolve the budget problems, but that was not the case," Gasperini explained. "For this reason, we changed our target; we couldn't sign established players, and the club invested in young talent, but I am satisfied with the possibilities we had."

Despite being satisfied with the current signings, Gasperini is still seeking a backup for Wesley and a winger. He indicated that the club would not sign players just for the sake of it and ruled out any significant departures that would necessitate further market activity. Gasperini described the squad as "numerically incomplete and reduced" compared to last season but "more competitive."

Looking ahead, Gasperini stressed that every team starts from zero points and that past achievements do not guarantee future success. "We need to see what others are doing, we need to know the enemies, the opponents. We are trying to do our best with our capabilities. Talking about the final result now, I don't know, it depends a lot on others too. We must start by thinking about Fiorentina, but above all..." he stated, emphasizing the need for focus on the immediate task.