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Gasperini hails Dybala-Malen link-up as Roma win again at Torino

·By Junior Yekini
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Gasperini hails Dybala-Malen link-up as Roma win again at Torino

AS Roma/X.com

Gian Piero Gasperini praised the partnership between Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen after a fourth straight win, 2-0 away to Torino, kept Roma top of Serie A.

Donyell Malen scored the opener in the 40th minute, turning home from close range after Paulo Dybala pounced on a defensive mistake, before Niccolo Pisilli sealed the points deep into stoppage time. It continued a productive spell for AS Roma's leading pair, whose understanding first clicked eight months ago in an earlier meeting between the two sides.

"There's satisfaction from everyone," Gasperini told DAZN. "It's a joy for the fans and for anyone who loves football to see two top players turn situations into goals and dangerous chances in practically every match.

"They're clearly two players who, as well as being strong individually, complement each other brilliantly - they have important connections they're able to turn into goals in so many games."

Gasperini also defended his decision to substitute Malen at a delicate point in the contest, framing it as part of a wider plan to manage his squad through a congested fixture list.

"We absolutely have to develop the squad as much as possible," he said. "This was our third game in eight days too, and I've said it many times: especially for forwards, if they always play 90 minutes, they can't perform to the same level in every game.

"If you can save them 20 or 30 minutes, they can handle more matches in a week. We also need to develop players who have to become important, following the example of champions like Malen and Dybala - not just their technical example, but their temperament and hunger to be decisive. If we manage that, the team gets stronger."

For Torino, head coach Ignazio Abate was left to rue individual errors after his side conceded first for a fourth straight game.

"Yes, there's regret," Abate said. "In the first half we didn't show our full potential, it's the fourth time we've gone behind and we need to cut down on individual mistakes. But the second half was of a high level - Roma have been outclassing every opponent, and we created three clear chances, we just needed more cynicism. I'm also angry about the second goal, it changes the perspective on the defeat. We raised our level, and that's something to take from this."

Abate also explained his decision to leave Alessio Cacciamani and Daniel Bragança on the bench from the start.

"Simeone was a doubt, so I chose to give minutes to Belghali, and Cacciamani can change a game," he said. "He and Bragança brought energy when they came on. We were also missing Adams and Casadei. After the break we'll see the new signings with better condition."