Leonardo Balerdi had been on the pitch for barely half an hour when he headed home a 89th-minute equalizer to deny Napoli all three points at the Maradona Stadium. The Argentine defender, introduced as a substitute at halftime of the second half, scored twice in the final 15 minutes to cancel out Scott McTominay’s 83rd-minute goal and cap a remarkable 3-3 draw. Napoli had led 3-1 with seven minutes left; Roma, under Gian Piero Gasperini, refused to fold.
Key Moments
- 28′, Zambo Anguissa breaks the deadlock with a goal for Napoli, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead at the Maradona.
- 48′, McTominay doubles the advantage three minutes into the second half, converting a pass from Politano to make it 2-0.
- 69′, Soule pulls one back for Roma, assisted by Malen, cutting the deficit to 2-1 and injecting life into the visitors.
- 74′, Balerdi, on as a substitute since the 58th minute, heads home from a Castro assist to level at 2-2 and complete Roma’s rapid turnaround.
- 83′, McTominay scores his second of the match, assisted by Olivera, to restore Napoli’s lead at 3-2 with the finish line in sight.
- 89′, Balerdi strikes again, finishing from a Wesley assist to make it 3-3 and deny Napoli what would have been a vital home win.
Tactical Breakdown
Napoli set up in a 4-3-3 and were the more efficient side despite seeing only 40% of the ball. They generated an xG of 2.51 against Roma’s 1.96, landed 9 shots on target from 15 total, and were clinical when it mattered. The first hour belonged almost entirely to the hosts, who pressed high and converted their opportunities through Zambo Anguissa’s opener and McTominay’s first-half-of-the-second-half finish.
The match turned on Gasperini’s triple substitution at the 58th minute: Rensch, Hermoso, and Pisilli all came off, replaced by Molina, Balerdi, and Castro. The defensive restructuring shifted Roma to a more aggressive shape, and within 11 minutes Gasperini’s changes had altered the scoreline entirely. Balerdi, a center-back by trade, got forward twice to score two headers that Roma simply had no right to get from that position. Napoli’s own changes, including pulling K. De Bruyne and Lang late, disrupted their rhythm at a moment when the game appeared won.
Roma’s volume of play, 60% possession, 24 shots and 11 corners, never quite translated into sustained threat until that frantic 15-minute spell. Gollini had little to do until late on, making five saves in total, while Meret was tested only once. Napoli’s defensive fragility in the final 10 minutes, first conceding at 74 and then at 89, will concern their coaching staff more than the attacking output. Having gone 3-1 up with time to manage, surrendering two late set-piece situations was entirely avoidable.
Player Ratings
Match Context
Standings
Head To Head
Verdict
The point keeps Roma third in Serie A on 18 points, one behind Inter and four off leaders Lazio, with their unbeaten record intact. Napoli, sitting ninth on 11 points, will feel the pinch of two dropped points at home after leading 3-1 with less than 10 minutes remaining. Massimiliano Allegri was sent off for abusive language in stoppage time, adding an uncomfortable postscript to a night when his side simply could not hold on.