EVAN FERGUSON REMAINED sidelined with a back injury as new Roma signing Donyell Malen scored in a 2-0 Serie A win against Torino.
Malen, who was signed from Aston Villa this week, took just 26 minutes to score on his debut. Paulo Dybala starred for Roma, assisting Malen’s goal and scoring Roma’s second.
Dybala laid on for Malen’s classy close-range finish midway through the first half before ensuring a third straight win for fourth-placed Roma in the 72nd minute.
The Argentina international’s brilliantly guided finish from Devyne Rensch’s cross was his first goal in nearly three months and helped put Roma on 42 points.
“We played really well and showed great desire to win, which is what we came here to do,” said Dybala to Sky.
Dybala was excellent coming in from the left in a win which was revenge for being eliminated from the Italian Cup by Torino on Tuesday night, and moved Roma three points ahead of fifth-placed Juventus in the battle for Champions League football.
Advertisement
“Obviously it’s easier for me to play in that position, it’s where I’ve played most of my career,” added Dybala, who enjoyed playing with Malen, who also had a goal ruled out for offside.
“He’s a really good player with experience who’s played in the top leagues. His movement makes it easier for us to find him.”
Meanwhile, Niclas Fullkrug kept AC Milan in touch with Serie A leaders Inter Milan with the only goal in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Lecce, his first for the seven-time European champions.
Germany forward Fullkrug, on loan from West Ham United, netted for the first time since April last year to push Milan past spirited Lecce and keep his new team three points behind Inter.
The burly 32-year-old glanced home Alexis Saelemaekers’s hooked cross in the 76th minute, causing the San Siro crowd to roar with relief after being frustrated by Lecce.
Without a win until just before Christmas, Fiorentina claimed a deserved third success in six matches thanks to goals in the first half from Rolando Mandragora and Roberto Piccoli.
Paolo Vanoli’s side sit just inside the relegation zone but level on 17 points with Lecce.
During pre-match preparations, Fiorentina players wore T-shirts with a picture of Commisso and the message “Thanks Rocco”, in tribute to a man who just missed out on giving the Tuscan club a first major trophy since 2001.
Italian-born billionaire Commisso was the founder of Mediacom Communications, one of the largest cable TV providers in the United States, and was a passionate football fan who had also owned the New York Cosmos before acquiring Fiorentina in 2019.
He invested in a new €120 million training centre and redevelopment of the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence, works which are still ongoing ahead of Fiorentina’s centenary next season.
In Spain, Real Sociedad damaged Barcelona’s title defence ambitions as Goncalo Guedes gave them a surprise 2-1 La Liga victory on Sunday as Hansi Flick’s side fell to a first defeat in 12 matches.
The Catalan giants, who hit the woodwork four times and had two goals disallowed, now only lead rivals Real Madrid by a single point at the top of the table after Alvaro Arbeloa’s side beat Levante on Saturday.
Hosts Real Sociedad, now unbeaten in four games under new American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, had Carlos Soler sent off late on but managed to hold on to triumph and climb up to eighth.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Injured Ferguson sidelined as new boy Malen scores in Roma win, Barcelona shocked by Sociedad
LAST UPDATE | 4 hrs ago
European results
Serie A
La Liga
*****
EVAN FERGUSON REMAINED sidelined with a back injury as new Roma signing Donyell Malen scored in a 2-0 Serie A win against Torino.
Malen, who was signed from Aston Villa this week, took just 26 minutes to score on his debut. Paulo Dybala starred for Roma, assisting Malen’s goal and scoring Roma’s second.
Dybala laid on for Malen’s classy close-range finish midway through the first half before ensuring a third straight win for fourth-placed Roma in the 72nd minute.
The Argentina international’s brilliantly guided finish from Devyne Rensch’s cross was his first goal in nearly three months and helped put Roma on 42 points.
“We played really well and showed great desire to win, which is what we came here to do,” said Dybala to Sky.
Dybala was excellent coming in from the left in a win which was revenge for being eliminated from the Italian Cup by Torino on Tuesday night, and moved Roma three points ahead of fifth-placed Juventus in the battle for Champions League football.
“Obviously it’s easier for me to play in that position, it’s where I’ve played most of my career,” added Dybala, who enjoyed playing with Malen, who also had a goal ruled out for offside.
“He’s a really good player with experience who’s played in the top leagues. His movement makes it easier for us to find him.”
Meanwhile, Niclas Fullkrug kept AC Milan in touch with Serie A leaders Inter Milan with the only goal in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Lecce, his first for the seven-time European champions.
Germany forward Fullkrug, on loan from West Ham United, netted for the first time since April last year to push Milan past spirited Lecce and keep his new team three points behind Inter.
The burly 32-year-old glanced home Alexis Saelemaekers’s hooked cross in the 76th minute, causing the San Siro crowd to roar with relief after being frustrated by Lecce.
Fiorentina meanwhile beat Bologna 2-0 to honour deceased owner Rocco Commisso.
Without a win until just before Christmas, Fiorentina claimed a deserved third success in six matches thanks to goals in the first half from Rolando Mandragora and Roberto Piccoli.
Paolo Vanoli’s side sit just inside the relegation zone but level on 17 points with Lecce.
During pre-match preparations, Fiorentina players wore T-shirts with a picture of Commisso and the message “Thanks Rocco”, in tribute to a man who just missed out on giving the Tuscan club a first major trophy since 2001.
Italian-born billionaire Commisso was the founder of Mediacom Communications, one of the largest cable TV providers in the United States, and was a passionate football fan who had also owned the New York Cosmos before acquiring Fiorentina in 2019.
He invested in a new €120 million training centre and redevelopment of the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence, works which are still ongoing ahead of Fiorentina’s centenary next season.
In Spain, Real Sociedad damaged Barcelona’s title defence ambitions as Goncalo Guedes gave them a surprise 2-1 La Liga victory on Sunday as Hansi Flick’s side fell to a first defeat in 12 matches.
The Catalan giants, who hit the woodwork four times and had two goals disallowed, now only lead rivals Real Madrid by a single point at the top of the table after Alvaro Arbeloa’s side beat Levante on Saturday.
Hosts Real Sociedad, now unbeaten in four games under new American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, had Carlos Soler sent off late on but managed to hold on to triumph and climb up to eighth.
– © AFP 2026, with reporting by Gavin Cooney
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Serie A Eurozone evan ferguson Roma