Napoli and Roma share six goals in Derby del Sole thriller
Scott McTominay and Leonardo Balerdi both scored twice as Roma fought back from two goals down to snatch a 3-3 draw at the Maradona.
Napoli let a two-goal lead slip as Roma fought back for a 3-3 draw in a chaotic Derby del Sole, with Scott McTominay and Leonardo Balerdi both scoring twice, according to Football Italia.
Frank Anguissa's bicycle kick had opened the scoring for the hosts, who were desperate to arrest a dip in league form after losing 3-1 to Venezia in their previous outing, despite having won in midweek Champions League action like their visitors.
Massimiliano Allegri's side were without several key figures, including Alisson Santos, David Neres, Costantino Favasuli and Alessandro Buongiorno, while Amir Rrahmani was sidelined with flu symptoms. Antonio Vergara was fit enough only for a place on the bench.
Kevin De Bruyne remained stationed in the deeper playmaking role he has not warmed to this season, Football Italia reported.
Roma, under Gian Piero Gasperini, welcomed back Donyell Malen from suspension but were dealing with their own injury list. Lorenzo Pellegrini had sustained a serious injury during the 4-0 Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava in midweek, adding to absences already affecting Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné and Mile Svilar. Bryan Cristante made his first league start in more than a month.
Anguissa's acrobatics open the floodgates
The first half swung from end to end before the breakthrough arrived in spectacular fashion. Matteo Politano's free kick was only half-cleared by Marten de Roon, and Anguissa met the loose ball from 14 yards with an overhead kick that looped beyond Pierluigi Gollini and into the top corner.
Before that moment Napoli had already carved out several openings. De Roon got a toe to deny Rasmus Hojlund a clean sight of goal, and Devyne Rensch produced a last-ditch clearance to stop Noa Lang converting a Giovanni Di Lorenzo cutback from close range. At the other end, Cristante fired narrowly wide and Alex Meret saved from Malen after a low ball from Matias Soulé.
Napoli should have doubled their lead soon after Anguissa's goal. Lang threaded De Bruyne through on goal, but Gollini raced off his line and blocked with his arm positioned in front of his body rather than spread to enlarge his frame, so no penalty was given.
Chances kept coming at both ends before the break. Mario Hermoso saw an effort deflected narrowly wide, Hojlund failed to direct a diving header on target from another Politano delivery, and a frantic sequence saw Hojlund sprint from midfield to tee up Matias Olivera, whose close-range effort was saved by Gollini before De Roon hacked the rebound off the line. Cristante then struck the base of the far post from a Roma set piece.
McTominay and Balerdi turn the game into a shootout
Napoli struck again almost immediately after the restart. Politano stood up another cross from the right and McTominay met it with a diving header at the back post that Gollini got a hand to but could not keep out. They were his first Serie A goals of the season, having previously scored twice against Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League.
Roma's response was built on a swift combination between Soulé and Malen. The pair worked a give-and-go that let Soulé curl a left-footed finish into the far bottom corner from the edge of the box, pulling the visitors back into the match.
Roma then drew level from a corner. Santiago Castro's knockdown fell for Balerdi, who powered the ball in from close range to make it 2-2, with the Giallorossi having forced a series of corners in that spell.
Napoli hit back almost instantly. Gollini parried a solo run from Leonardo Spinazzola but could not regain his footing before McTominay arrived to drive a low shot into the far bottom corner from distance, restoring the hosts' lead at 3-2.
The final goal arrived from another Roma set piece. Wesley's cross found Balerdi, whose header was clawed against the upright by Gollini but had already crossed the line, completing his brace and sealing the 3-3 scoreline.
A flashpoint and a red card from the touchline
Napoli were incensed by the build-up to Balerdi's second goal, believing Sam Beukema had been fouled beforehand, though the contact — a nudge in the ribs — appeared slight. Allegri was sent off from the technical area in the aftermath, Football Italia reported, as frustration boiled over in a match already defined by its swings in momentum.
Earlier in the second half, Roma also survived a scare when Wesley's error let Politano through on goal, only for Gollini to save at point-blank range, while Rafa Marin made a crucial interception to deny another Malen opportunity. Benoit Badiashile had to be withdrawn with a thigh problem during the same period.