Ex-BVB star Donyell Malen shines with a hat-trick | OneFootball

Not once, not twice, no, Donyell Malen found the net three times in one game. The 27-year-old AS Roma striker sparked scenes of great joy on Friday evening on the banks of the Tiber.

Bottom side Pisa were the visitors at the Olimpico. Roma needed the three points to keep alive their hopes of breaking into the Champions League places. The team sitting sixth in Serie A went into the match as clear favorites against the league’s strugglers.

And Malen looked sharp right from the start. After just three minutes, the former Dortmund man flicked the ball on with his own head, rounded the opposing back line and hammered it into the top-right corner for 1:0.

His second goal came shortly before the break after being set up by fellow Dutchman Devyne Rensch (23). Malen poked the ball over the line from close range to make it 2:0 for the Giallorossi. The international completed his hat-trick in the 52nd minute. Matias Soulé (22) brilliantly picked out the former BVB player with a superb pass. Malen calmly slotted the ball into the bottom-left corner. “It’s Malen’s night,” cheered Corriere dello Sport. Tuttosport added: “The Dutchman was unstoppable.”

“Unstoppable”

Thanks to the 3:0 win, Roma remain within touching distance of the places that secure qualification for Europe’s premier club competition. That is due in no small part to Malen. In mid-January 2026, Aston Villa loaned the attacker to the capital club for two million euros. In 12 Serie A appearances, the Dutchman has already scored ten times. He has also found the net once for the Giallorossi in the Europa League.

Malen has found his footballing happiness on the banks of the Tiber. In January 2025, he left Borussia Dortmund after 132 appearances and 59 goal involvements. However, things did not work out for him at Aston Villa as he had hoped. He made a total of 46 appearances for the Birmingham club. While his 12 goal contributions were not a complete disappointment, they only rarely gave fans much to get excited about.

Photo: Getty Images

Things have been very different in Rome: Malen is scoring almost at will. But his loan deal ends next summer, which would mean a return to Villa. However, there is an obligation to buy for 25 million euros. That clause comes into effect if the club qualifies for the Champions League or Europa League. In addition, Malen must have featured in half of all matches. The future of the former Dortmund man therefore appears likely to lie in Italy.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.