Sinners & Saints: Torino 0, Roma 2

We’re not even a month into the season, but Roma is already showing serious potential as they ease into year two under Gian Piero Gasperini. With four matches in the books, the Giallorossi remain undefeated while boasting a nearly unblemished record, conceding only one goal through their first 360 minutes of action; a start that already has Roma supporters dreaming big.

Beyond the perfect record, what’s been most impressive about Roma’s 4-0 start is the nature of those victories. Gasperini’s group has won in almost every possible way. First, there were the laughers: back-to-back blowouts against Fiorentina and Lecce, proving that Roma can make light work of inferior opponents. Things got trickier the third time out, but their thrilling come-from-behind victory over Atalanta allowed the club to exorcise their demons against Gasperini’s former club, securing three points against a potential top-four rival.

Meanwhile, yesterday’s 2-0 win over Torino may have been a dull, gritty affair, but it was exactly the kind of professional, no-frills victory on which titles are built. So, while it didn’t exactly keep us pinned to the edge of our seats, Monday’s result provided reassurance that Roma can handle whatever is thrown at them.

Of course, rolling with the punches is a lot easier when you’re scoring goals for fun, something Donyell Malen continues to do at an astonishing rate.

The prolific Dutch forward continued his assault on Serie A yesterday, scoring his league-leading 6th goal of the season and 20th in his first 22 league matches. Those are video game numbers. We may be running out of superlatives to describe his current form, but we’re witnessing one of the greatest runs in club history.

Oh, and we even learned something new about Malen yesterday; he likes to be called Bobby. Who knew?

For our second halo, we’re going to the opposite end of the spectrum and highlighting a player about whom we know relatively little. In fact, so little was known about Balerdi that, if you believed certain segments of the Marseille fanbase, you would’ve thought Roma signed a caveman. However, much like the club’s original Captain Caveman, Federico Fazio, Balerdi’s detractors may have sold him short.

In his first start for the Giallorossi, the 27-year-old Argentine defender was a buzzsaw at the back, pairing with Mario Hermoso and Gianluca Mancini to throttle the Torino attack. Going the full 90, Balerdi led all players in defensive actions, clearances and aerials won while completing 91% of his passes, including 67% of long attempts. Balerdi also passed the eye test, taking clean lines to the ball, closing out space, and moving efficiently along both axes.

It’s still early days, of course, but Balerdi seems primed to assume a larger role in Gasperini’s defensive schemes.

Speaking of defensive schemes. After nearly a decade in the capital, we may finally be seeing the best version of Gianluca Mancini. With his wild man ways long past, Mancini has settled nicely into his role as Roma’s elder statesman and delivered his best performance of the young season against Torino. Earning Man of the Match ratings from multiple sites, Mancini was active and composed at the back (10 defensive actions, 60% duel success) while progressing the ball up the pitch, pumping seven balls into the final third and creating one scoring chance, and even registering a game-high six touches in the opposition box.

Jumping back into the starting lineup in place of Manu Koné, who nursed a sore knee for most of the match, the young Roman reminded us all why he remains the future of the franchise, to borrow an American football phrase. In addition to securing a late insurance goal, Pisilli created two scoring chances, played two accurate crosses (from three attempts) and recovered three loose balls.

Given Mancini and Evan Ndicka‘s continued excellence and the rising tide around Balerdi and Daniele Ghilardi, we risk overlooking El Guapo’s contributions. While Hermoso continued to excel behind the ball (eight defensive actions and 67% duel success), the Spanish defender provided another glimpse of his underappreciated passing and playmaking abilities, playing 10 balls into the final third and creating one big scoring chance, per Sofascore.

Not quite sinner, not quite saint, these guys still warranted a quick mention.

He didn’t register an actual assist last night, but La Joya chipped in three key passes and completed two of three dribbles on the night. You’re not a Roma fan if you’re not fretting about his minutes, but Dybala has been as good as gold this season.

Continuing his job-share duties with Rodrigo Mora, the 23-year-old Argentine had a solid afternoon at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino. Making way for Mora in the 57th minute, Soulé still managed to create one big scoring chance (per SofaScore) while going 3-for-3 in dribble attempts, contributing two defensive actions and recovering seven balls.

I’ll take the proverbial L for omitting him from our initial slate of U-23 candidates during this summer’s countdown, but the 19-year-old wing-back should be in the mix for the top spot next season if he keeps this up. Starting opposite Nahuel Molina, Lulli delivered a remarkably balanced performance, contributing six defensive actions and seven recoveries while consistently pressuring his opposite number, Roma summer transfer target Alessio Cacciamanni, in attack.