Gian Piero Gasperini described the partnership between Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala as "world-class" following their opening-day thrashing of Fiorentina on Monday. 

Gasperini watched on as his team began their 2026-27 Serie A campaign with a 4-0 win at Stadio Olimpico, with Malen's hat-trick teed up by the impressive Dybala. 

Malen opened the scoring in the 27th minute before doubling his and Roma's tally seven minutes after the break after rifling the ball past David de Gea at his near post. 

The Netherlands international completed his treble on the hour, turning in from close range after Dybala raced to the byline before crossing for Malen to finish from close range. 

Niccolo Pisilli added further gloss to the scoreline, but the day belonged to two Roma players. The last time a player recorded a hat-trick of assists all for the same team-mate in Serie A was in May 2021, when Emanuel Vignato did so for Rodrigo Palacio while playing for Bologna, also in a match against Fiorentina. 

Dybala finished with team-high totals for chances created (four), passes in the final third (25) and crosses (five), while no other Roma player had more shots (five), touches in the opposition box (11) or successful dribbles (three) than Malen. 

"They are world-class," Gasperini said of Malen and Dybala, as quoted by Football Italia. "Dybala has always been, he's just had a few too many injuries.

"This one is a beast, so much for the silk muscles people talked about. He could even play extra time. Last year he was unlucky. He got injured taking a free-kick and a penalty."

After scoring 15 goals in 20 outings in all competitions during his productive loan spell from Aston Villa in the second half of 2025-26, Malen picked up where he left off for Roma. 

Malen has netted 17 goals in 19 Serie A matches. After the same number of appearances in the competition for Roma in the three-point-for-a-win-era (from 1994-95), no player has scored more, with Malen surpassing Gabriel Batistuta's tally of 15. 

"Malen is extraordinary, but it's no accident," Gasperini added. "He feels appreciated and strong, he's a leader on the pitch and he can grow further.

"What he's showing is incredible, he must have found the right environment."

Roma finished last season strongly on their way to securing Champions League football, and they have now won their last six Serie A matches, scoring at least two goals per game and keeping five clean sheets in that period. 

They have not had a longer winning run in the top flight since between February and March 2025 (seven under Claudio Ranieri), and their blistering start to the campaign saw them leapfrog champions Inter to the top of the table after matchday one. 

But when asked whether Roma can go on to achieve something bigger this season, Gasperini was not getting carried away. 

"You sound like a broken record," Gasperini said, laughing. "I agree with the performance. When I talk about 'dimension', you have to know your opponents very well.

"When we understand what level the other teams are playing at, we'll have clearer ideas. About ourselves, I'm very happy.

"This is an extraordinary group. We created a base a year ago and then added quality. Now the group is consolidated, the new arrivals fit in, and that's important."