Direct, destructive, dominant - How Gian Piero Gasperini turned Roma into Serie A title contenders ahead of crucial Como clash

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In November 2019, Pep Guardiola summed up the challenge of facing Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta with a line that became iconic in Italy: "It is like going to the dentist." Now, the wily coach's Roma side are the ones tormenting teams at home and abroad.

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The famous quote came after Manchester City were held 1-1 by the UEFA Champions League newcomers, who brought their high-pressing, man-marking ferocity to the biggest stage in Europe.

It was an approach that yielded historic highs. During Gasperini’s nine years at the helm, Atalanta detonated the calcio glass ceiling by rising from perennial yo-yo club to Champions League regulars and, in 2023/24, Europa League champions.

Almost seven years on from Pep’s evocative description, Gasperini is in his second season with AS Roma, whose rip-roaring start to the campaign has left more opponents squirming in the chair as they are put under the drill.

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Five games into the Serie A season, the Giallorossi sit top of the table on 13 points, leading Inter and Lazio courtesy of their whopping +11 goal difference.

Gasperini ended a seven-year absence from the Champions League in his first season in charge at the Stadio Olimpico, and a summer of savvy recruitment and tactical tutoring has left him with a side playing football akin to his greatest Atalanta teams.

Roma’s flying start has left fans and neutrals alike wondering if they could really compete for the Scudetto in 2026/27.

A big step towards proving their credentials would be overcoming fellow dark horses Como, who Roma face at the lakeside Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on Sunday at 11:30 UK time, live with TNT Sports on HBO Max.

How ‘DyMalen’ is driving Roma’s rise

This could be a special year in the Eternal City. There have been exciting developments off the field after plans to build a new Roma stadium were finally given the green light after years of delays, problems and frustration.

But with Roma’s centenary year coming up in 2027, those of a Giallorosso persuasion are starting to dream of marking 100 years of history with a Serie A title.

If they are to do so, the strike duo of Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala - affectionately dubbed ‘DyMalen’ - will almost certainly play a leading role.

Malen has been a sensation since arriving from Aston Villa on loan in January. He scored 14 goals in 18 Serie A games, a haul that was second only to Inter captain Lautaro Martinez in the division, despite playing only half a season.

Any doubts about whether that momentum could continue after his move was made permanent for €25 million in the summer were put to bed emphatically on the opening day, when Malen bagged a hat-trick in a 4-0 thumping of Fiorentina – with all three goals coming from Dybala assists.

The 32-year-old Argentina star has looked reborn this season after brushing off the persistent fitness issues that have plagued his career to find top form again.

His clever dribbling and passing has helped create the space for the Dutchman to thrive; Malen’s six goals in five Serie A appearances this season mean he has made the most prolific start for a Roma player in the three-point era (since 1994/95), surpassing the great Gabriel Batistuta.

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"The chemistry with Paulo was immediate," Malen told Corriere dello Sport.

Malen’s electric form seemed to come out of nowhere. He scored 10 goals in 46 games for Aston Villa, where he was often deployed on the wing, as he had been previously at Borussia Dortmund.

Gasperini was convinced the Netherlands international was the man to spearhead his 3-4-2-1 formation, and his conviction has been rewarded – but what has changed?

"A bit of everything," Malen continued in his interview with the Roman newspaper.

"I have played a lot and everywhere, but now I think I’m in the right place with the right people.

"My coach and team-mates put a lot of faith in me, and all these things together have helped me be what I dreamed of."

The data behind the dentist: How Gasperini-ball works

While a Roma attack that has plundered 14 goals in five matches has dominated the headlines, Gasperini has built a balanced side as capable of keeping things tight at the back as they are of carving opponents open.

Mile Svilar has been named Serie A goalkeeper of the year for two seasons in a row and continues to be a formidable presence between the sticks, conceding just three goals this season.

Smart summer recruitment has strengthened Gasperini’s options from back to front, too.

Last season’s nailed-on back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan Ndicka and Mario Hermoso now face competition from new boys Leonardo Balerdi and Konstantinos Koulierakis, while Argentina international Nahuel Molina has added experience to the wing-back department.

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The arrivals of exciting teenage talent Rodrigo Mora and 21-year-old striker Santiago Castro have bolstered Gasperini’s attacking options too, while in midfield his old Atalanta lieutenant Marten de Roon was brought in as a backup to the crucial midfield pivots Manu Kone and Bryan Cristante.

But arguably the most impressive aspect of Roma’s hot start has been how quickly Gasperini has assimilated the new elements to create a brand of football that is strikingly familiar to the one Guardiola likened to the dentist’s chair.

Data from Stats Perform underlines just how the breathless intensity of facing Gasperini’s Roma manifests itself, particularly in the way they press.

Roma lead the league in high turnovers, high turnovers ending in shots, and the average distance from their own goal when they win the ball back.

Serie A 2026/27	High Turnovers	Shot-ending High Turnovers	Average Start Distance
Roma	58	17	45.6m
Juventus	44	9	45.1m
Lecce	40	1	42.0m
Como	38	7	42.8m
Inter	36	10	43.3m

*Ordered by top-five sides for high turnovers. Fiorentina have the second-highest shot-ending high turnovers (12). Cagliari, like Inter, have 10. Milan and Genoa rank joint-fourth for average start distance (43.2m).

But Gasperini’s team does not only look to win the ball back high. They also want to move it quickly once they have it, pouncing while the opponent is vulnerable.

Only surprise package Frosinone have more direct attacks than Roma this season, and only Genoa can equal their number of goals from direct attacks.

Serie A 2026/27	Direct Attacks	Direct Attack Goals
Frosinone	16	1
Roma	15	2
Como	15	1
Venezia	11	1
Juventus & Lazio	10	0

*Ordered by top-five sides for Direct Attacks. Genoa have scored two direct attack goals, from eight direct attacks. Milan, Udinese, Fiorentina, Sassuolo, Monza and Inter have each scored one direct attack goal.

To illustrate Roma’s success at both ends of the pitch, we need look no further than their data for goals and expected goals from open play (the highest in the league), and their defensive record when it comes to goals conceded and expected goals against.

Another statistic Gasperini will undoubtedly be delighted with is that Roma are the only team in Serie A yet to commit an error leading to a shot or goal this season.

Top-five best attacks (GS)	Goals	Shots on target	Expected Goals (xG)	xG from Open Play	Goals from Open Play
Roma	14	35	12.8	11.5	13
Inter	15	37	14.5	9.2	11
Milan	10	21	8.0	6.5	10
Como	9	36	9.4	6.8	7
Frosinone	9	28	7.5	5.2	7
Top-five best defences (GA)	Goals Conceded	Expected Goals Against	Shots Faced	Shots on Target Faced	Errors Leading to Shots
Cagliari	2	8.8	102	21	6
Roma	3	5.6	46	17	0
Lazio	3	6.2	65	25	1
Juventus	4	2.4	39	14	1
Milan	4	5.9	45	17	4

It has been a thoroughly impressive start from Gasperini’s men.

They are unbeaten and have only failed to win twice in six games in all competitions, holding Inter to a 2-2 draw before the international break and drawing 1-1 away to Fenerbahce in their UEFA Champions League opener.

But they face a significant test of their mettle in the next few days when they travel to Como, before Jose Mourinho returns to Rome with Real Madrid next Wednesday.

Both games will be live with TNT Sports on HBO Max.

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