AS Roma has made a strong start to the Serie A season, currently sitting at the top of the table after five matches. This impressive form has been significantly bolstered by the performance of Donyell Malen, who was recently named Serie A Player of the Month for August and September 2026 [1]. Malen, who joined the club from Aston Villa in January 2026, has been prolific, scoring six goals in his first five league appearances. His contributions have been central to Roma’s early success, which includes four wins and one draw in the league. The club’s strong start sees them with 13 points, having scored 14 goals and conceded only 3. This dominant run has set a high bar for their campaign, positioning them as early contenders in the Italian top flight.
International Commitments and Absences
While AS Roma enjoys domestic success, the club is also navigating international commitments and player absences. Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not be traveling to Argentina for Lionel Messi’s farewell match. The club cited sporting and logistical reasons for this decision, prioritizing the players’ fitness and availability for upcoming fixtures over the long journey [2]. Molina, in particular, faces a significant international setback, as he is currently serving a seven-match international ban imposed after the 2026 World Cup final. This suspension further limits his availability for national team duties. On a more positive note for international football, Italy, featuring Roma players Bryan Cristante and Gianluca Mancini, recently bounced back with a convincing 4-1 victory away against Turkiye [3]. This result highlights the continued involvement of Roma’s talent on the international stage, even as the club manages its squad through various commitments.
Club Developments and Refereeing Discussions
Beyond the pitch, AS Roma is also making headlines with developments regarding its infrastructure. The club’s new stadium project has been officially included in Italy’s Euro 2032 bid dossier [4]. This inclusion underscores the significance of the new stadium not just for Roma, but for Italian football as a whole, as the nation prepares its bid to host a major international tournament. Meanwhile, discussions around Serie A refereeing have also emerged, with refereeing designator Daniele Orsato acknowledging errors in officiating this season. Orsato attributed these mistakes to superficiality and incorrect positioning, while also defending the league’s approach to fouls and VAR, stating it aligns with the requests of players and teams [5]. AS Roma was notably involved in a match where a debated Lautaro Martinez incident went unpunished, contributing to the ongoing dialogue about officiating standards in the league.
What it means
AS Roma’s current standing at the top of the Serie A table with 13 points from five matches (W4 D1 L0) signifies a dominant start to their campaign. Their impressive goal difference of +11 (14 goals scored, 3 conceded) reflects both a potent attack and a solid defense. The club’s recent form, which includes a 2-2 draw against FC Internazionale Milano and a 2-0 away win against Torino FC in Serie A, alongside a 1-1 draw in the UCL against Fenerbahçe SK, demonstrates their ability to compete across different competitions. The upcoming Serie A fixture against Como on October 11 presents an opportunity for Roma to consolidate their lead and continue their strong run, with the site’s forecast for this match locking 24 hours before kick-off.
Sources
- Football Italia: Official: Malen crowned Serie A player of the month for August and September 2026 football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Roma: ‘Utmost respect for Messi’ as club defend Dybala and Molina decision football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Kone: ‘An important match for Italy against France, a complicated period for them’ football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Malago hails ‘beautiful’ Italy win over Turkey and claims: ‘Roma’s stadium will be on Euro 2032 list’ football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Orsato admits Serie A refereeing errors: ‘Superficiality, wrong positioning, wrong ideas’ football-italia.net ↩
