Dybala is back in Roma: a starter in every match with four assists

Six matches, six starts, four assists and not a single minute on the bench. That's how Paulo Dybala opened the season at Roma, and those numbers alone explain why he's once again the team's standout player, with the club sharing the top of Serie A with Inter.

The Cordoba native has racked up 494 minutes between Serie A and the Champions League, always starting. He hasn't scored yet, but that's almost beside the point given how involved he's been in the buildup play. Dybala is no longer just the attacking midfielder who pops up near the box to finish plays: now he drops deep, offers himself up, and orchestrates. He moves more like a playmaker distributing the ball than a forward waiting for service in the area.

That shift shows up in his heat map too. In several matches he's drifted to the left side, where he links up play, cuts inside, and looks for the final pass. He no longer needs to stay close to goal to make a difference: his influence now starts much earlier in the play.

His season debut was the perfect introduction: in the 4-0 win over Fiorentina, he delivered three assists in a single match. He then started against Lecce, Atalanta, Torino and Inter, and in the Champions League he played all 90 minutes of the 1-1 draw against Fenerbahce.

The partnership with Malen and Gasperini's praise

Gian Piero Gasperini isn't shy about his star man: "Dybala has more consistency, we're better with him." Part of that consistency comes from the partnership he's built with Donyell Malen, who already has six goals this season. The Dutchman serves as the focal point in the box while Dybala creates, feeding him the ball at just the right moment.

But there's something that excites Gasperini even more than the stats: seeing Dybala able to accelerate and beat defenders again, something that had become rare in recent times. "He's sprinting again now, attacking defenders," the coach explained, also noting that the Argentine has regained his confidence to shoot from outside the box.

From uncertainty to a new contract

All of this stands in stark contrast to where Dybala was just a few months ago. Last season was defined by physical setbacks: in March he had to undergo surgery on the lateral meniscus of his left knee, an injury that kept him out for nearly four months. In May, with his contract still unresolved, the player himself hinted that his time in Rome might be coming to an end.

The end of the season changed that narrative. He came back from surgery, regained his form, and Roma decided to bet on him again: in July, he signed a contract extension through June 2027. With Gasperini as coach, he also found someone committed to looking after his physical condition.

He's started the season like he hasn't in yearsGian Piero Gasperini

The Italian coach went even further when discussing his current form, saying Dybala hasn't missed "a single minute of training or a match," and adding: "I've been doing this a long time and I've coached many excellent players. Dybala is among the best, if not the best."

What's next: Como and Real Madrid

Now the challenge is maintaining that level through a demanding stretch. First up is Como, in Serie A's sixth matchday. Then comes the match circled in red: Real Madrid at the Olimpico, in the Champions League.

It will be a special test for the World Cup champion. Not only because he's facing one of Europe's top contenders, but because he arrives at that match having recovered something that seemed nearly impossible to hold onto for months: continuity. Today he's an undisputed starter, his team's top assist provider and a central figure in Roma's push at the top of the table. Against Real Madrid, Dybala will have the chance to show just how far this version of himself, the one he and Gasperini rebuilt together, can go.