Scott McTominay and Leonardo Balerdi both scored twice as Roma twice came from behind to draw 3-3 with Napoli in a pulsating Derby del Sole at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Saturday, a six-goal thriller that ended with Napoli boss Massimiliano Allegri sent off in stoppage time.
Roma arrived in Naples knowing a win would take them top of Serie A, and left with a point that preserved their 15-game unbeaten league run stretching back to April. Napoli, twice in front and 2-0 up early in the second half, were left wondering how a game they controlled for an hour slipped away twice.
Anguissa's overhead kick lights the fuse
The first half was end to end. Bryan Cristante drilled just wide for Roma and Alex Meret stuck out a boot to deny Donyell Malen, but the opening goal belonged to Napoli — and it was spectacular. Matteo Politano's free-kick was headed out by Marten de Roon, and Frank Anguissa met the dropping ball with a superb overhead kick that flew into the corner, the first league goal Roma had conceded before half-time all season, as Reuters reported.
Roma pushed back, Mario Hermoso curling inches wide and Cristante flicking a header onto the crossbar, while Pierluigi Gollini denied Mathias Olivera from close range at the other end. Three minutes after the restart, Napoli doubled their lead: Politano stood up a cross from the right and McTominay powered a diving header at the back post that Gollini could not keep out. They were the Scotland midfielder's first Serie A goals of the season, days after his midweek brace in the Champions League.
Soule and Balerdi drag Roma back — twice
At 2-0 down, Roma looked beaten. Instead, Gian Piero Gasperini's side produced two goals in five minutes. Matias Soule played a one-two with Malen and curled a left-foot finish into the far bottom corner on 69 minutes, and when Santiago Castro knocked down a corner, substitute Balerdi blasted the loose ball into the roof of the net to level at 2-2.
The drama was only starting. With seven minutes left, Gollini parried a Leonardo Spinazzola effort and was still scrambling to his feet when McTominay drilled low from distance into the far corner for 3-2 — his second of the night, completing a brace that Football Italia's report led on. The Maradona erupted, but Roma were not finished: on 89 minutes Wesley stood up a cross and Balerdi headed home at the back post, the ball crossing the line before Meret clawed it onto the upright. Napoli claimed Sam Beukema had been fouled in the build-up, VAR disagreed, and Allegri's furious protests earned him a red card in stoppage time.
The numbers underlined the chaos: Roma had 60 per cent of possession and won the corner count 11-2, but Napoli put nine of their 15 shots on target.
So what: Roma stay in the title hunt, Napoli stall
Roma sit third on 18 points from eight games, one point behind Inter and Lazio, who each have a game in hand — and with Inter sweating on injuries, the Giallorossi's unbeaten start is becoming a genuine title story rather than a fast start. They host Cagliari on Tuesday with momentum intact.
For Napoli, this was two points thrown away. Late game management has cost Allegri's side again, and with 11 points they sit ninth while Como — 2-0 winners over Sassuolo earlier on Saturday — climb above them into fourth. Napoli travel to Monza on Wednesday knowing draws like this are quietly wrecking their season.
Beyond the Final Whistle verdict: Roma are the real deal. Twice dead and buried in one of Italy's most hostile stadiums, they refused to lose — that is title-race character, whatever the table says tonight. Napoli, by contrast, have a soft centre: a side that scores three at home and still does not win has a problem no overhead kick can hide.
Was this a point gained or two points lost for Roma — and can Gasperini's side really win the Scudetto? Let us know what you think in the comment section.
