Ancelotti begins new Brazil cycle with Wesley recalled after World Cup disappointment

Leonardo Balerdi has spoken to DAZN after Roma's win over Napoli, admitting that scoring a brace was a first for him. He said the goals were not chance and credited head coach Gian Piero Gasperini for giving him the freedom to make attacking runs. Asked whether he expected to be a key figure in the match, Balerdi said: "No, it is the first time I have scored a brace." Asked whether Gasperini is teaching him these attacking movements, he replied: "Of course, he gives me this freedom. I try to do what he asks me." Balerdi also reflected on how settled he feels at the club. He said: "I am very happy here, I said it from the first day. They welcomed me very warmly. I feel that I have been here for 2-3 years thanks to them. This gives me the strength to play the way I am playing."

Roma midfielder Niccolò Pisilli spoke to Dazn before the match against Napoli, saying the team arrives at the game full of energy after playing well in recent fixtures. "We have played well in the last few matches. We arrive with a lot of energy and we want to do well," he said. Pisilli, a Roma academy product, was asked about his increased responsibilities after wearing the captain's armband in the most recent match. He said: "It was an honour to wear the armband, but I am focused on today's match." The midfielder, who is a Roma academy product and has never signed for another club, is now taking on a more prominent role in the squad as the team seeks momentum against a strong Napoli side. Asked whether he is a fan of the bordocam, the close-up camera used to show the players' bench and dressing area, Pisilli smiled and said: "Yes, I don't watch it straight away, but I always see them all."

Napoli beat Roma 2-1 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Serie A's eighth round, with Anguissa and McTominay scoring for the hosts and Matías Soulé pulling one back for Roma. Gian Piero Gasperini's side were without Mile Svilar, Manu Koné, Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini. Gasperini did, however, have Bryan Cristante back in the starting XI and Donyell Malen available again after serving a one-match suspension. Massimiliano Allegri started Højlund, supported by Politano and Lang, while Rrahmani was ruled out by flu and did not make the bench. Roma's starting line-up was Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Rensch, De Roon, Pisilli, Wesley; Cristante; Soulé, Malen. Rensch lined up at right-back, and Cristante was pushed further forward, with Pisilli alongside him in midfield. Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rafa Marin, Badiashile, Olivera; Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Politano, Højlund, Lang. Colombo of Como refereed, with Bindoni-Rossi M. and Sacchi J.L. as assistants, Aureliano on VAR and Meraviglia as VAR assistant. Rafa Marin was booked after three minutes for a heavy challenge on Wesley, and Cristante and Rensch were also cautioned, in the 28th and 45th minutes. Roma had early chances through Soulé, who fired a left-footed effort wide in the 8th minute, and Cristante, whose powerful right foot struck the outside of the net in the 20th minute. Malen went close from the edge of the box in the 24th minute, when Meret saved with his foot. Gollini kept Roma in the game with a pair of saves, first rushing out to deny De Bruyne in the 34th minute and then stopping Olivera at close range in the 43rd. Cristante hit the left-hand post with a header in the 44th minute. Hermoso had a shooting chance in the 37th minute that was deflected wide. Napoli took the lead in the 27th minute when Anguissa scored with an overhead kick in the Roma area, although Gollini was unable to do anything. The move had started from a free kick that appeared to have no foul on De Bruyne. Before half-time Malen wasted a good opening for Roma. Napoli doubled their lead in the 47th minute, when Politano's right-wing cross was headed in by McTominay, who got ahead of Rensch. Gollini then made a save to deny Politano in the 56th minute, after Wesley had lost possession. Badiashile limped off with an injury in the 51st minute and was replaced by Beukema. Roma made three changes in the 58th minute, bringing on Molina, Balerdi and Castro for Rensch, Pisilli and Hermoso. Napoli also made a substitution in the 65th minute, with Giovane replacing Politano. Soulé reduced the deficit in the 69th minute with a left-footed strike from a tight angle, set up by Malen, to make it 2-1. Napoli held on to take the three points.

Roma came from behind twice to draw 3-3 with Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Serie A matchday eight, and Gian Piero Gasperini's side were rescued by Leonardo Balerdi, who came off the bench and scored a brilliant brace. Giallorossi.net's player ratings, written by Andrea Fiorini, gave Balerdi an 8 and Gasperini a 7 for a difficult away trip made without several important players. Gollini was rated 6, with a superb save from Olivera standing out, though he was uncertain with crosses into the box and could have done more on McTominay's shot. Ndicka was rated 6.5 for winning a physical duel with Hojlund, who had little impact. Hermoso, also 6.5, attacked often and tried several times to shoot, but his efforts were always deflected for corners, and Politano often took him on. Mancini was rated 5.5, lacking quality in attack and pace in defence, improving slightly after the break. Rensch, rated 6, made a crucial intervention on Lang but was rated as playing with the handbrake on, offering little going forward. Molina, who replaced him at 58', was rated 6.5 after Gasperini deployed him on the left, where his runs brought energy to the flank. De Roon, rated 6.5, grew into the game and was a wall in the second half. Pisilli was rated 5.5 and was not especially bright, with disappointing set-piece deliveries. Castro, who came on for him at 58', was rated 6 and gave the team a jolt, unsettling the Napoli defence. Wesley was rated 6, described as confused but running tirelessly, with a fine cross for Cristante that hit the post, and an assist for Balerdi's equaliser late on. Cristante was rated 6.5 for his physicality and a few good chances, though he lacked quality with the final pass. Soule was rated 7.5, a constant threat who troubled Napoli and set up Malen inside the area, though Malen wasted the chance. In the second half Soule struck a stunning left-foot shot that revitalised Roma and changed the momentum of the match. Malen was rated 6, wasting a penalty by hitting a weak effort in the area, and was saved only by his assist for Soule. Mora came on late without a rating. Gasperini was praised for his substitutions, which proved decisive in the final 3-3.

Balerdi came off the bench to score a brace and Roma salvaged a 3-3 draw at Napoli after trailing 2-0 and then 3-2, with McTominay's goal coming late in the game. Soulé was the outstanding attacking performer, with a stunning left-footed strike from distance among his contributions. Gasperini's side had to respond twice in a match that swung back and forth, and the equaliser came in a dramatic finish. The match was a test of character for a Roma side that had dropped in the first half-hour. Gasperini was not satisfied with the team in the opening thirty minutes, and the coach's tactical changes at half-time helped turn the game. Cristante returned to the lineup and brought variety to the midfield, providing Roma's first shot on goal. Gollini was at the centre of the defensive effort, making a Neuer-style rush off his line to deny De Bruyne and then a Svilar-like save from a cross by the same Belgian. Match ratings from the Italian report: Gollini 6, Mancini 6 (replaced by Ghilardi at 82 minutes), N'Dicka 6, Hermoso 6.5, Rensch 6 (replaced by Molina 6.5 at 57 minutes), Pisilli 5.5 (replaced by Castro 6 at 57 minutes), De Roon 6.5, Wesley 5.5, Cristante 7, Soulé 7.5, Malen 6.5 (replaced by Mora at 83 minutes), Gasperini 7. Balerdi, who came on for Hermoso at 57 minutes and was booked soon after, was rated 8. The report said Balerdi produced a double inside half an hour, with his finish summed up as the Argentine 'claw of the lion'. De Roon was credited for clearing a Hojlund shot off the line and for the cross that set up Balerdi's header. Soulé was praised for his dribbling, his defensive work, and his winning strike. The report noted Hermoso's ambition, including a long-range shot that struck the crossbar and a challenge on Hojlund, and Malen's assist for Soulé. Wesley was described as being under pressure from Politano on the right, while Pisilli was criticised for shyness in the first half and for his corner delivery. Gasperini's side finished the game with a point after Roma came back from a two-goal deficit and then from a 3-2 scoreline to draw level.

Roma came back twice from behind to draw 3-3 with Napoli at the Maradona, with Antonio Balerdi scoring twice, the second in the 89th minute, to salvage a point in a chaotic big match. Napoli led through a spectacular overhead kick from Zambo Anguissa, who struck just before the half-hour mark, and an early second-half goal from McTominay in the 48th minute. Roma responded within four minutes, with Matías Soulé equalising in the 70th minute and Balerdi in the 74th. McTominay restored Napoli's lead in the 83rd minute with his personal brace, but Balerdi struck again in stoppage time to fix the final score at 3-3. The result leaves Roma on 18 points, one more than Como and one fewer than Inter and Lazio, both of whom have yet to play. Gasperini made several changes from the Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava. Gollini started in goal, with Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso in defence and Wesley and Rensch, preferred to Molina, on the flanks. De Roon and Pisilli formed the midfield pair, with Cristante pushed into the number ten role behind Soulé and Malen. Napoli were coached by Allegri, and the draw left a bitter taste for both Gasperini and Allegri. The opening exchanges were fast-paced. Rensch cleared a cross meant for Lang early on, and Soulé fired a left-footed shot just over the bar in the 8th minute, the first Roma effort on Meret's goal. Napoli came close in the 12th minute when Di Lorenzo found space behind Wesley and sent a low ball across goal, where Rensch intervened again to deny Lang, and Hojlund fired wide from the rebound. Badiashile and McTominay also tested Gollini from distance. Cristante hit a right-foot shot wide around the 20th minute, and Malen's placed effort in the box was pushed away by Meret after a pass from Soulé. Anguissa then opened the scoring just before the half-hour, volleying into the left corner from a set piece. Gollini made a crucial sortie to deny De Bruyne, who had been released by Lang, in the 35th minute. Hermoso then curled a left-foot shot narrowly past the post after a fine run by Soulé, who was again one of Roma's best players. Gollini saved well from Olivera in the 42nd minute, and de Roon cleared off the line. Cristante's header then struck the post in the closing moments of the half. Colombo blew for half-time after one added minute, with Napoli ahead. Beyond the goals, the match featured several yellow cards: Marin (Napoli), and Cristante, Rensch and Balerdi (Roma). Napoli made changes at half-time with Beukema replacing Badiashile, and later Giovane replacing Politano. Roma's substitutions came at the 58th minute, bringing on Balerdi for Hermoso, Molina for Rensch and Castro for Pisilli. The match was played at the Maradona.