AS Roma’s perfect start unexpected storyline of Serie A

AS Roma's surprising Serie A debut has captured attention, with the team currently boasting a perfect record in their opening four matches. Even as early as the start of the season, the club had been ranked 3rd in the league last year and returned to the Champions League after an eight-year hiatus. New manager Gian Piero Gasperini has taken AS Roma to new heights, and their impressive five-match winning streak sealed their first top-three finish since 2017-18.

However, the team's perfect start was not anticipated, as they had lost 11 out of 38 matches during the previous campaign. Their recent form has been inconsistent, with only three wins out of the last 10 games. Nonetheless, the club's progress this season began to show when Donyell Malen scored six goals in just three weeks, including three game-winning goals. Malen's impressive performance has been consistent, and he has become a vital asset to the team.

The arrival of defender Leonardo Balerdi on loan from Marseille has also been a surprise, as he made his debut just 129 minutes into his first Roma match. Despite this limited exposure, Balerdi's performance has been remarkable, earning applause from teammates Malen and Paulo Dybala. Comparing Balerdi to the legendary Franco Baresi, Gasperini has expressed excitement about the defender's ability to read a game, although this comparison seems premature given Balerdi's limited playing time.

With Inter Milan also beginning the season with a perfect record, the upcoming match against Inter could determine the course of the season. While Roma has a slight edge in recent head-to-head encounters, Inter has proven to be a formidable opponent, particularly in away games. However, if AS Roma's Malen, Balerdi, and Gasperini can perform at their best, they could very well overcome the challenge posed by Inter and cement their place at the top of Serie A.