Serie A Daily Report - 2026-08-31

Roma maintained their perfect start to the Serie A season with a 4-0 win at Lecce on Monday. Donyell Malen scored twice inside the opening 24 minutes, while Matías Soulé added a third in the 25th minute and 19-year-old Portuguese midfielder Rodrigo Mora completed the rout after the interval. The result followed Roma’s 4-0 victory over Fiorentina in their opening fixture, with Malen having scored a hat-trick in that match. His latest double took him to five goals in two games and underlined Roma’s remarkably rapid start under Gian Piero Gasperini.

Malen’s wider record is even more striking: according to The42 and Football Italia, he has scored 19 goals in 20 Serie A appearances since joining Roma from Aston Villa in January. Gasperini described the forward as “a gamble that paid off” and praised his ability to control, turn and accelerate quickly. The coach also said Roma were further advanced than at the start of last season, while dismissing early Scudetto discussion. Roma’s consecutive 4-0 wins nevertheless give Gasperini a substantial platform before the schedule becomes more demanding.

Como claimed a statement 2-1 victory at Napoli on Sunday, spoiling Massimiliano Allegri’s home debut and giving Cesc Fàbregas’ side four points from its opening two matches. Marco Baturina put Como ahead in the 17th minute before Napoli equalised through Rasmus Højlund on 30 minutes. Anastasios Douvikas restored the visitors’ advantage four minutes later, and that proved decisive at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Como finished fourth last season to secure Serie A’s final Champions League place, but their latest performance suggested they may be ready to compete with the established contenders domestically.

Pressing again played a central role, with Como swarming forward and forcing the turnover that led to Douvikas’ winner. Fàbregas said, “Winning at the Maradona is not normal,” reflecting the scale of the result against a club that has won Serie A twice in the last four seasons. Douvikas also scored in Como’s opening 1-1 draw at Udinese and led the team with 14 league goals last season. Their challenge will be sustaining this level while balancing Champions League football against Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.

Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s ninth-minute strike secured Inter a 1-0 win at Cagliari on Sunday, preserving the champions’ perfect start to their Serie A title defence. The Turkey midfielder guided a first-time effort from the edge of the area into the net for his second goal in two matches. Inter controlled much of the first half but failed to extend their lead, with Cagliari goalkeeper Elia Caprile and some wayward finishing keeping the contest alive. The hosts created a late threat, yet Inter held on to claim all three points in their first away fixture of the campaign.

The match also marked Curtis Jones’ Inter debut, with the former Liverpool midfielder introduced from the bench in the second half following his €30 million move. Bastoni made his 300th appearance for the club, while Josep Martínez produced two important saves and Yann Bisseck made a late intervention to deny a close-range effort. Cristian Chivu’s side therefore combined attacking ambition with the defensive resilience needed to survive a nervous finish. Two wins from two leave Inter among the early pace-setters ahead of the forthcoming meeting with Napoli.

Fiorentina have agreed a loan deal to sign Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto, according to Fabrizio Romano’s update reported by Yahoo Sports Canada. A verbal agreement was described as complete, with the Italy international’s medical booked for Tuesday. Leeds accepted the inclusion of a buy option, while Fiorentina agreed to cover Gnonto’s full salary. The structure gives the Serie A club an opportunity to assess the forward during the season and provides Leeds with immediate wage relief while retaining a route to a permanent transfer.

Gnonto’s proposed return to Italy comes after Leeds were reportedly open to his departure following a lack of regular first-team football during the previous 12 months. Romano’s “here we go” wording indicates that the main terms had been settled, but the medical and final documentation remained important steps before completion. Fiorentina began the league season poorly, losing 3-0 to Frosinone, so adding a player with international experience could broaden their attacking options as they seek a response in the next fixtures.

Cryptocurrency company Tether announced that it had acquired a minority stake of more than five per cent in Juventus on Friday. The company did not disclose the exact terms, but a spokesperson said the investment was made public after Tether crossed five per cent of the club’s voting rights. Juventus had not confirmed the purchase, while Exor, which controls 64 per cent of the club, told Reuters it had not sold shares to Tether. The transaction therefore introduced a new corporate shareholder without changing Exor’s controlling position.

Tether chief executive Paolo Ardoino described the purchase as a “strategic investment” intended to combine digital assets, artificial intelligence and biotechnology with the established sports industry. Juventus are valued by Forbes at more than $2 billion, making the club one of football’s most valuable properties. The investment could eventually lead to technology-related commercial activity around the club, although Tether had not detailed what integrations fans or players might expect. Its arrival nevertheless adds a major cryptocurrency company to Juventus’ ownership landscape.