Malen powers Roma: 6 goals and a perfect start at the top

Monday's round of the fourth matchday confirmed Roma and their cover star. At 6.30pm, away at Torino, the Giallorossi won 2-0: Malen broke the deadlock in the 40th minute of the first half and Nicolò Pisilli sealed it in the 92nd, as reported by Calciomercato.com and ANSA Calcio. For Corriere dello Sport it was a win built on the "usual Malen", one that puts Gasperini top with a perfect record.

The numbers show how much the Dutchman matters. With his goal in Turin Malen moves to 6 goals in four matchdays and is Serie A's outright top scorer, two clear of Frosinone's Antonio Raimondo on 4; behind them, on 3, are Lazio's Davide Frattesi and Fiorentina's Franco Mastantuono. Six goals are exactly half of the 12 Roma have scored so far, while conceding just one in four games.

The evening began with the words of the two coaches. On the eve of the game Marco Abate called Roma "title contenders", adding that his Torino still wanted to have a go (ANSA Calcio); before kick-off Gasperini said Malen is going "beyond all expectations" (TuttoASRoma.it). Corriere dello Sport then wrote that the striker has matched a Francesco Totti record and entered the club's history.

Roma's schedule in recent weeks has been packed. On 5 September, at the Olimpico, they beat Atalanta 2-1, the club Gasperini led for years; on 10 September, in the first matchday of the Champions League league phase, they drew 1-1 away at Fenerbahçe. Then came the trip to Turin, played and won without conceding.

In the table Roma have 12 points out of 12, with 12 goals scored, one conceded and a goal difference of +11. Behind them, on 10 points, are Como, still unbeaten after today's 2-1 win over Parma, and Lazio. Inter, who had 9 points from three games before this round, played their late Monday game against Udinese at San Siro tonight: the final result has not yet reached our match data and will be counted in the next standings update.

Now comes the week of truth. The fifth matchday brings Roma-Inter at the Olimpico on Saturday 19 September at 6pm, the game that will show what this start is really worth. In the Champions League Roma are back in action on 14 October at 9pm, again at home, against Real Madrid. Until then there is only one question: how far can Malen go.