Malen's priceless double keeps Roma in touch with Serie A pack

ROME (AP) — Donyell Malen scored in each half as Roma beat Cagliari 2-0 and stayed in touch with the chasing pack at the top of Serie A on Monday.

Leader Inter Milan was eight points clear of city rival AC Milan and nine ahead of reigning champion Napoli. Roma was three points further back along with Juventus.

Dutch center forward Malen had scored only once in four appearances since joining on loan from Aston Villa in January and he proved his worth on Monday with two excellent finishes.

He ran on to a clever through ball from Gianluca Mancini and his deft chip over the goalkeeper was equal to the set-up pass.

His second was more of a poacher’s effort as he got on the right side of a packed defense to turn in a low cross 20 minutes after the break.

The result served as a confidence booster ahead of next weekend’s crunch tie at Napoli.

Cagliari, which was seeking a fourth consecutive Serie A win for the first time in more than a decade, remained 12th.

Atalanta moved to within two points of the European places after beating Cremonese 2-1.

Atalanta was unbeaten in its last seven league matches and in seventh spot, two points behind Como and seven behind Roma and Juventus.

Nikola Krstovic put Atalanta ahead after 13 minutes when he got on the end of a nice cross from Giacomo Raspadori. Davide Zappacosta made it 2-0 minutes later with a neat individual goal.

Atalanta's Lazar Samardžić and Berat Djimsiti also came close as they bossed the first 45 minutes.

Krstovic missed the best chance of the second half and Berat Djimsiti had a goal disallowed in stoppage time as Atalanta continued to dominate.

Morten Thorsby’s last-minute consolation for Cremonese gave the scoreline a more respectable sheen than the action suggested.

Cremonese was without a win in 10 games and sat 16th, just five points above the relegation zone.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Atalanta's Berat Djimsiti, left, and Cremonese's Jamie Vardy battle for the ball during the Italian Serie A soccer match between A.C Atalanta B.C. and Cremoese in Bergamo, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (Stefano Nicoli/LaPresse via AP)

Roma's Donyell Malen in action during the Italian Serie soccer match between Roma and Cagliari in Rome, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (Alfredo Falcone/dpa via AP)

Roma's Donyell Malen, top left, fights for the ball with Cagliari's Riyad Idrissi during the Serie A soccer match between Roma and Cagliari, in Rome, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)

Roma's Donyell Malen, center, scores 2-0 goal, during the Serie A soccer match between Roma and Cagliari, in Rome, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)

Roma's Donyell Malen in action during the Serie A soccer match between Roma and Cagliari, in Rome, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)

LONDON (AP) — Enzo Fernandez's agent called Chelsea's decision to drop the midfielder “completely unfair” on Friday.

Fernandez was banished from the next two games — the FA Cup quarterfinal against Port Vale on Saturday and the Premier League match with Manchester City next weekend — Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior confirmed on Friday.

The sanction was in response to Fernandez telling a podcast this week that he would like to live in Madrid. There's speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid even though he's contracted to Chelsea to 2031.

Fernandez's agent Javier Pastore said the Argentina international does not understand the decision.

“The punishment is completely unfair,” Pastore told The Athletic. "Banning the player for two matches, which moreover are also absolutely crucial for Chelsea because qualification for the Champions League is at stake and he is one of the team's most important players.

"There's no real reason or justification for why he has been banned. Enzo didn't understand the situation. When the coach told him he accepted it because he's a highly professional guy who's always fully committed wherever he is and respects decisions, but we don’t understand the punishment because he doesn't mention any club or say he wants to leave Chelsea, far from it. He only mentions Madrid, the city.

“Our plan after the World Cup is to meet with Chelsea again and, if there is no agreement, to explore other options.”

Rosenior said he was part of the club's decision.

“It’s disappointing for Enzo to speak that way. I’ve got no bad words to say about him but a line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build,” Rosenior said.

“Enzo, firstly, as a character, a person and a player, I have the utmost respect. He’s frustrated because he wants us to be successful. The door is not closed on Enzo. It’s a sanction. You have to protect the culture, and in terms of that, a line was crossed.”

Fernandez joined Chelsea for a then-British record 107 million pounds ($142 million) in 2023 and was appointed vice-captain the following year.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez holds the ball during the English League Cup semifinal second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea in London, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Argentina's Enzo Fernandez celebrates scoring his side's opening goal against Mauritania during a friendly match in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)