Gasperini backs Roma for Champions League bow at Fenerbahce

Roma came back twice from behind to draw 3-3 at the Maradona against Napoli, and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini felt his side had dropped two points. Speaking after the match, he praised his team's character and growing belief, saying the performance showed Roma can compete with many sides in Italy. Roma were under pressure for much of the first half-hour and struggled to get out of their own half, with Napoli holding the upper hand. Gasperini admitted the early spell was the one part of the game he was unhappy with. His side then found a way to get to grips with the hosts, and they levelled before half-time and continued to improve after the break. Gasperini said: "There is awareness, we are playing good football. The morale is high and the feeling is that we have lost two points. But given how the match went, it is fine like this." He added: "We played against a strong Napoli and if you are competitive against teams of this calibre it means in Italy you can compete with many teams." On the early phase of the game he said: "I am satisfied, except for the first half-hour. Napoli were superior there, we suffered it, we were in difficulty and struggled to get out. They had an extra gear." He continued: "We managed to get to grips with them and we grew, already at the end of the first half. In the second we played well, we had inside us the feeling that we could win the match, with great conviction." McTominay's goal to make it 3-2 was a heavy blow, Gasperini said, because there was little time left to respond. He added: "But inside us we felt strong and we were good at taking it back again." He also singled out Soulé and Ndicka, saying: "Soulé played an extraordinary game, exactly like Ndicka." Balerdi was decisive with a brace, and the result suggests Roma have come through another high-pressure away trip, showing they can stay in matches even at the most difficult moments.

Roma came from behind to draw at Napoli, a result that leaves Gian Piero Gasperini feeling his side let a chance slip. Roma were close to suffering their first league defeat of the season before fighting back. Gasperini said: "Apart from the first half hour, I am satisfied with the performance. The morale is high, but the feeling is that we missed an opportunity." Napoli coach Allegri, who was clearly irritated, left the television interviews, muttering that he was "not lucid." Gasperini joked: "I saw that, I hope not at me, I didn't throw him out." The draw is Roma's third against a major side this season, and Gasperini said each result had felt different. "They are three different draws, but in all three we had the sense of being competitive. Against Inter we came close to winning it, against Como we played a half with ten men, and here in Naples, considering the quality of the opponents, coming back to draw was a great boost for us." Roma have also conceded a number of goals recently, seven between the Real game and the most recent match. Gasperini responded: "Without risks you don't achieve goals. I don't know if our way of playing is that risky, given also the numbers of our defence. We play the match trying to win." Gasperini praised the goals as high quality and said the team arrived well in the box through several players, helped by the energy of those who came on after the break. He singled out Soulé, who he said had put in an extraordinary performance, "him as well as the others." He went on: "We are in a great moment, we have great conviction and we play good football." Balerdi also earned praise, with Gasperini saying he had scored a brace. On Balerdi and de Roon, Gasperini said: "As I said from the start, both are leaders. In these weeks their contribution has been extraordinary from the very beginning. For de Roon it could have been easy, but Balerdi is also a player who understands football, and this time he even scored a brace." Gasperini added that he likes this Roma more and more.

Massimiliano Allegri's post-match outburst after Napoli's 3-3 draw with Roma at the Maradona has sparked a row, with Roma hitting back that their Champions League qualification was earned on the pitch. The Napoli coach was sent off late in the match, after Balerdi's equaliser, when Napoli protested a foul in the build-up to the goal. Away from the official microphones, Allegri reportedly said: "Sempre loro… L'anno scorso gli hanno messo la Champions in tasca. L'ho pagata con il Milan". The remark refers to last season, when Roma secured Champions League qualification on the pitch while Allegri's Milan finished outside the top four. According to Fabrizio Romano, posting on his WhatsApp channel, Roma were "surprised and irritated" by the coach's comments and consider the attack "fuori luogo", or out of place. The club's position is clear: "la qualificazione alla Champions della passata stagione è stata conquistata sul campo, senza alcun presunto aiuto arbitrale", meaning the qualification was won on the pitch, without any alleged refereeing help. The response has not come through an official statement but was relayed clearly after Allegri's words began circulating overnight, and the tone shows how much the remark irritated the club. Allegri had already shown his frustration before the cameras, saying he was too angry to analyse the match clearly and contesting the referee's decision to send him off. His private comment turned a protest about the officiating at Napoli-Roma into a wider dispute, reopening a wound Allegri evidently carries from last season. Roma, however, consider that qualification the result of their own route and their consistent form across the league, and do not intend to accept insinuations of any other kind.

Roma secured a draw at Napoli's Stadio Diego Armando, the Maradona, thanks to a comeback driven by their Argentine players. All three of Roma's goals came from Argentines: Matías Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi, who scored a brilliant brace. Gasperini has had little success against Allegri, and the head-to-head record offered little hope before kick-off, with the two most experienced coaches in Serie A facing each other. Gasperini avoided defeat through his substitutions, the team's response and the fierce determination of the Argentines. Roma remain unbeaten in Serie A. Balerdi came on in the second half alongside Castro and Molina to add fresh impetus. Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini were both injured and missing. Roma struggled early on to press with their usual aggression in midfield, and in the first half a magnificent bicycle kick from Anguissa upset the coach's tactical plans. At the start of the second half, the familiar dip in intensity allowed Napoli to double their lead quickly, and Roma also showed too many errors in build-up play. Without Dybala, Pellegrini, Koné and Svilar, the side lacked dynamism and creativity. Soulé was the only one regularly looking for Malen, who was often far from the area and struggled through the tight lines of the Napoli defence. Guido D'Ubaldo noted that this squad needs a few more players and a longer bench to provide constant alternatives, particularly in attack. Despite the difficulties, and a Napoli side that were struggling in the league but remained tough opponents, the response after the break was that of a great team. Roma scored two goals in four minutes, and then Balerdi struck the decisive goal two minutes from time. The draw, coming after results against Inter and Como, keeps Roma firmly close to the top of the table. It shows that, with the anger and quality of the Argentines, the path the club has taken is the right one.

Gian Piero Gasperini has spoken to Dazn ahead of Roma's match against Napoli, praising Bryan Cristante's return as an important boost for the squad. Roma have lost Lorenzo Pellegrini, but Gasperini says Cristante's value to the team is significant. Gasperini described the fixture as a match between sides of quality, adding: "Napoli-Roma is a match between teams of quality. They are two of the best in the league, it is an important game." Cristante is a key return, and the coach explained the reasoning behind his impact on the side. Gasperini said: "Yes, because in that area we have often played with the same men. His value is important. It makes the team more versatile, we can play him in the deeper midfield role. It gives us the chance to have variations." Asked how much the match could shape the season, he said: "It is difficult to say now, but if we win today it is a further step in awareness. It would be a great boost."

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 secured a draw at Napoli's Stadio Diego Armando, the Maradona, thanks to a comeback driven by their Argentine players. All three of Roma's goals came from Argentines: Matías Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi, who scored a brilliant brace. Gasperini has had little success against Allegri, and the head-to-head record offered little hope before kick-off, with the two most experienced coaches in Serie A facing each other. Gasperini avoided defeat through his substitutions, the team's response and the fierce determination of the Argentines. Roma remain unbeaten in Serie A. Balerdi came on in the second half alongside Castro and Molina to add fresh impetus. Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini were both injured and missing. Roma struggled early on to press with their usual aggression in midfield, and in the first half a magnificent bicycle kick from Anguissa upset the coach's tactical plans. At the start of the second half, the familiar dip in intensity allowed Napoli to double their lead quickly, and Roma also showed too many errors in build-up play. Without Dybala, Pellegrini, Koné and Svilar, the side lacked dynamism and creativity. Soulé was the only one regularly looking for Malen, who was often far from the area and struggled through the tight lines of the Napoli defence. Guido D'Ubaldo noted that this squad needs a few more players and a longer bench to provide constant alternatives, particularly in attack. Despite the difficulties, and a Napoli side that were struggling in the league but remained tough opponents, the response after the break was that of a great team. Roma scored two goals in four minutes, and then Balerdi struck the decisive goal two minutes from time. The draw, coming after results against Inter and Como, keeps Roma firmly close to the top of the table. It shows that, with the anger and quality of the Argentines, the path the club has taken is the right one.

Leonardo Balerdi scored a brace as Roma fought back to draw 2-2 with Napoli, with Paulo Dybala's team-mate Matías Soulé also finding the net. Balerdi's double rescued coach Gian Piero Gasperini's side and took him to 12 goals this season. Soulé provided a moment of quality for the Giallorossi, but it was Balerdi who turned the match. Balerdi became the first Roma player to score twice in a match this season, and his goals take him to 12 for the campaign. Roma had trailed to Napoli before the Argentine defender hauled them back, and the point was a result that kept the team in touch with the leaders. Balerdi joined the club in August, and he has quickly established himself as one of the team's leaders. Balerdi said: "It's the first time I've scored two goals in the same game. I get further forward, and I saw it from Mancini and Hermoso. We wanted to win, but at least we're bringing a point home." On settling in, he added: "I'm very happy here, I said it from the first day. It feels like I've been here two or three years. That gives me the strength to play the way I am playing." His form has made the question of a permanent deal look straightforward. Reaching the threshold of playing 55% of matches (at least 45 minutes) would trigger the obligation to buy at €14 million. The former Marseille defender has won over everyone in just a few weeks. Nahuel Molina also made a decisive contribution after coming on. Molina said: "I've always played on the right, but I'm fine on the left too. Wherever I play, I'm happy. I came to help the team in every way possible. We don't win the big matches? We could have done more, but the important thing is that we have never lost." Roma now host Cagliari on Tuesday at the Stadio Olimpico, with the aim of collecting three points to keep pace with Inter and Lazio. Dybala is also expected to return to the squad for the Cagliari game.

Leonardo Balerdi scored twice off the bench as Roma came back to draw 3-3 at Napoli's Stadio Maradona on Saturday afternoon, the last day of daylight saving time in 2026. The defender's second goal came in the 89th minute and salvaged a result that looked lost. The match was a six-goal, end-to-end contest that the Italian commentary describes as chaotic yet disciplined, and it left Roma with a sense of growing maturity. The brace is notable beyond the scoreline. The article recalls that the last Roma player to score two goals in a match at Napoli was Agostino Di Bartolomei, who netted a double in a 5-2 win on 20 February 1983, when Roma were chasing the Scudetto. The statistic has been dormant for more than four decades. The Italian writer frames the result as a test of character for Gasperini's side, which played without Paulo Dybala, a significant absence on the day. Roma were two goals down early on, struggling with a poor start in which clarity seemed to be missing. Roma's response after going 3-2 down was the key point of the article. McTominay scored the goal that appeared to settle the match, and the writer argues that this was the moment Roma should have collapsed. Instead, the players kept their shape and their patience, and the bench provided energy. The article says neither side can feel entirely satisfied. Napoli could regret failing to protect their lead twice, while Roma could look back on the opening hour as poor. Still, the writer says Roma left with the lesson that the team can absorb blows without losing its balance. The piece closes with the image of a team that looked into the abyss, remembered who it was, and chose to rewrite the story, with the feet of a defender and the head of a great side.