Donyell Malen absolutely went off for AS Roma last weekend, bagging a hat-trick in what was easily the best performance of the opening Serie A weekend. Roma poured in four goals against Fiorentina, a team everyone thought was gonna be interesting this season, and they looked scary good right out of the gate. Talk about making a statement!
Roma’s Fireworks and Inter’s Warning Shot
Seriously, AS Roma’s opener was appointment viewing. Malen’s hat-trick was insane, but don’t forget Paulo Dybala dishing out three assists in that same game. Four goals against a supposedly strong Fiorentina side? That’s not just a win, it’s a declaration. If this is how Jose Mourinho’s squad is gonna play, the rest of the league needs to be worried. They’re already up two spots in the power rankings, and you can see why.
But hold up, let’s not crown Roma just yet. Inter, the reigning 2025-2026 Scudetto champions, kicked off their title defense with a strong 4-1 win over Monza. Francesco Pio Esposito’s backheel goal was pure magic, probably the goal of the weekend. And keep an eye on Andy Diouf, who showed up huge with two assists and a Man of the Match award as the “new” starting right winger. Inter didn’t skip a beat, reminding everyone why they’re the favorites to repeat.
Early Season Jitters for Napoli and Milan
Not everyone had such a smooth start, though. AC Milan snagged a win against Torino, which is good for new coach Ruben Amorim, but it feels a little shaky. Rafael Leao, who’s still injured and might be out the door in the transfer window, didn’t play. Luckily, Alphadjo Cisse, who’s only turning 20 later this year, stepped up and scored the opening goal. That’s a young talent to watch, but you wonder if Milan can stay consistent without their injured star.
Then there’s Napoli. They grabbed a 2-0 win over Genoa with new manager Massimiliano Allegri, who replaced Antonio Conte after two seasons. But honestly, it was far from convincing. They didn’t impress, especially in that first half, and let’s be real, they were lucky to even get the win. Kevin de Bruyne’s first goal should have been disallowed due to a foul. You can’t rely on luck every week, Allegri’s got some serious work to do. Even Juventus, who won thanks to a Bremer header against Frosinone, didn’t exactly blow anyone away. Luciano Spalletti has players like Randal Kolo Muani who are yet to impress, and they’re already looking to sign another striker. It’s only the first weekend, but some teams are already showing their cracks.
This Serie A season is just getting started, and what a start it’s been! Roma’s looking like an early contender with that kind of offensive firepower, and Inter is showing they’re not giving up that title easily. Can Napoli tighten things up, or will Milan find their rhythm? We’re only one matchday in, and the drama is already high.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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