Malen backs Roma to ‘do something special’ before Como showdown

Malen says Roma have the belief to make their fast start count

Donyell Malen believes Roma can “do something special” this season as they prepare to face fellow high-flyers Como in Serie A. Roma have taken 13 points from their opening five matches, level with Inter at the top, while Como have collected 10.

Malen, who has scored six times in Roma’s opening five league games, said his move from Aston Villa in January was driven by a desire to play regularly and take on an important role.

“At that stage, I didn't feel important, so I think I made the best choice. Today, I feel I'm in the right place with the right people,” Malen told Corriere dello Sport. “The coach and my team-mates show a lot of confidence in me, and together, all of this is helping me become the player I dreamed of being.”

The forward said Roma had made a strong impression from the outset, describing the squad as “strong and connected” and adding: “We can build on moments like these and do something special.”

Como provide a stern test

Como have also made an impressive start, although they head into the meeting after a 2-0 defeat to Frosinone that ended a nine-match unbeaten run in the league. They have won their last three home Serie A meetings with Roma, scoring twice in each match.

Roma’s attacking numbers underline their early momentum: across the first five matchdays, only Inter had scored more goals or recorded a higher expected-goals total. The sides shared a 2-2 draw in Roma’s most recent league match against the champions.

Malen’s availability had been in question after he withdrew from the Netherlands squad during the international break with reported knee discomfort. The source report said the issue was not considered significant and Italian media expected him to be available for the trip to Como.

Gasperini nears a Serie A milestone

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini is approaching 300 Serie A victories. He has 299, and another win would make him the fifth manager to reach that mark, according to the report.

Como president Mirwan Suwarso, meanwhile, has said he would not stand in the way if coach Cesc Fàbregas chose to leave. “He doesn't need a clause to go anywhere he wants,” Suwarso said, adding that he would not seek compensation if Fàbregas wanted to take another job.

Key figures ahead of the match

Como forward Tasos Douvikas has scored 12 goals in 2026, a club record for a single calendar year in Serie A, though his last five league goals have all come away from home. The report also noted that, since his Roma Serie A debut on January 18, 2026, Malen had scored 20 times in 23 appearances, the highest tally among players in Europe’s big five leagues over that span.

The match preview’s model gave Como a 38.4% chance of winning, Roma 36.1% and a draw 25.5%. Despite Como’s strong home record in this fixture, the teams’ form points toward a closely fought encounter.