Serie A | Napoli 3-3 Roma: Epic battle with McTominay and Balerdi braces

Roma came back from 2-0 down against Napoli for an epic 3-3 draw in this fiery Derby del Sole, including a Frank Anguissa bicycle kick, Scott McTominay and Leonardo Balerdi braces.

Both teams were coming off midweek Champions League victories, but in very different Serie A form and mood. The Partenopei badly needed to get back on track in Serie A after a 3-1 defeat to Venezia, and had Antonio Vergara on the bench, but still missed Alisson Santos, David Neres, Costantino Favasuli and Alessandro Buongiorno, with Amir Rrahmani suffering from flu symptoms. Kevin De Bruyne continued to be used in a deeper playmaker role he was not fond of.

The Giallorossi had Donyell Malen back from suspension, but Lorenzo Pellegrini sustained a serious injury in the 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava, joining Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné and Mile Svilar on the treatment table. Bryan Cristante got his first start in well over a month.

Marten de Roon got a toe to the ball to stop Rasmus Hojlund getting a clean shot from just inside the penalty area, then Devyne Rensch dived in with a desperate clearance to prevent Noa Lang tapping in the Giovanni Di Lorenzo roll across from a couple of yards out.

Cristante drilled just wide from the edge of the box, and Alex Meret stuck out a boot to deny Malen after a Matias Soulé low pass from the right.

Lang’s cross-shot flashed past two Napoli teammates and the far post, but the hosts took the lead with a truly spectacular strike.

Matteo Politano’s free kick was cleared by De Roon only as far as Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa for an acrobatic bicycle-kick from 14 yards that looped into the far top corner, leaving Pierluigi Gollini rooted to the spot.

There was another huge chance for 2-0 on 35 minutes, as the inspired Lang pass sent De Bruyne clear on goal, but Gollini came flying out of his box and although the ball struck his arm, it was in front of the body, so not making his silhouette any bigger to gain an advantage.

Mario Hermoso’s effort was deflected inches wide at the other end, while Hojlund couldn’t keep the diving header on target from another Politano cross.

It was wide open and frantic, as Hojlund ran all the way from midfield to pull back for Matias Olivera, forcing a desperate Gollini save from point-blank range and De Roon clearing the loose ball off the line.

At the other end, Cristante’s glancing header on a set play thumped the base of the far post for Roma.

Napoli doubled their lead at the dawn of the second half, as Politano stood up a cross from the right for the McTominay diving header at the back post, which Gollini tried and failed to claw off the line from point-blank range. The Scotland international had not scored at all this season until his brace against Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League, so these were his first Serie A goals.

Benoit Badiashile limped off clutching his right thigh, and Rafa Marin made a crucial interception as De Roon tried to set up a Malen tap-in.

Another Gollini save was required on Politano from point-blank range after Wesley’s howler let him go clear, but Roma did get back into the game when Soulé completed a give and go with Malen to bend his left-foot finish into the far bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Roma had a series of corner kicks and equalised with one of them, as Santiago Castro knocked down the De Roon cross for Leonardo Balerdi to blast into the roof of the net from close range.

Just as the Giallorossi were pouring forward, they were caught out at the back. Gollini parried a Leonardo Spinazzola solo effort and was still trying to find his feet when McTominay drilled hard and low from distance into the far bottom corner for 3-2.

It still wasn’t over, as Wesley stood up a cross for the Balerdi header, which was clawed onto the upright, but not before crossing the line. Napoli were furious, as they felt Sam Beukema was fouled in the build-up, but the nudge in the ribs seemed insufficient from Balerdi, so Max Allegri was sent off from the touchline for dissent.

Napoli 3-3 Roma

Anguissa 28 (N), McTominay 48, 83 (N), Soulé 69 (R), Balerdi 74, 89 (R)

24-10-2026 17:00

MatchDay 8

Live

Player statistic

1st half

2nd half

Napoli

Roma

Starting lineups

1 Alex Meret Goalkeeper

5 Benoît Badiashile Defender 52'

22 Giovanni Di Lorenzo Defender 80'

17 Mathías Olivera Defender

16 Rafa Marín Defender

99 Frank Anguissa Midfielder

11 Kevin De Bruyne Midfielder 79'

8 Scott McTominay Midfielder

21 Matteo Politano Attacker 66'

70 Noa Lang Attacker 79'

19 Rasmus Højlund Attacker

95 Pierluigi Gollini Goalkeeper

2 Devyne Rensch Defender 58'

5 Evan Ndicka Defender

23 Gianluca Mancini Defender 84'

22 Mario Hermoso Defender 58'

43 Wesley Defender

4 Bryan Cristante Midfielder

15 Marten de Roon Midfielder

61 Niccolò Pisilli Midfielder 58'

14 Donyell Malen Attacker 84'

18 Matìas Soulé Attacker

Substitutes

14 Nikita Contini Goalkeeper

32 Vanja Milinković-Savić Goalkeeper

20 Lorenzo Lucca Attacker

6 Billy Gilmour Midfielder

35 Luca Marianucci Defender

31 Sam Beukema Defender 52'

23 Giovane Attacker 66'

68 Stanislav Lobotka Midfielder 79'

26 Antonio Vergara Midfielder 79'

37 Leonardo Spinazzola Defender 80'

3 Konstantinos Koulierakis Defender

32 Devis Vásquez Goalkeeper

70 Giorgio De Marzi Goalkeeper

77 Emanuele Lulli Defender

78 Mandjou Camara Midfielder

63 Alessandro Di Nunzio Midfielder

20 Nahuel Molina Defender 58'

26 Leonardo Balerdi Defender 58'

9 Santiago Castro Attacker 58'

87 Daniele Ghilardi Defender 84'

86 Rodrigo Mora Midfielder 84'