Malen scores hat-trick as Roma thrash Fiorentina 4:0

AS Roma delivered a dominant performance in their season-opening home fixture, defeating Fiorentina 4:0, with Dutch striker Donyell Malen the standout performer after netting three of the club's four goals.

Roma pressed their opponents from the outset, creating several early chances. In the 20th minute, Portuguese talent Rodrigo Mora tested goalkeeper David de Gea with a shot into the far corner, which was saved, while a goal from defender Mario Hermoso was ruled out shortly after for being offside.

Malen opens and closes the scoring

Roma took the lead in the 27th minute when Paulo Dybala burst into the box and slipped a pass to Malen, who beat his marker and finished into the near corner to make it 1:0.

After the break, Malen continued his scoring form. In the 52nd minute, following a precise long pass, he raced onto the ball during a fast counterattack and finished from a tight angle to double the lead. Eight minutes later, after Evan Ferguson-style pressure from Emanuele Lulli won the ball back and Dybala provided the assist, Malen completed his hat-trick, making it 3:0. Niccolo Pisilli added a fourth in the 86th minute to seal the result.

The victory puts AS Roma at the top of the Serie A table after the first round of matches. Roma will travel to face Lecce on 31 August, while Fiorentina return to action this Saturday against newly-promoted Frosinone.

Elsewhere in round one, Inter beat Monza 4:1, Napoli won away at Genoa 2:0, and AC Milan defeated Torino 2:1.