Gasperini says Roma were sharp and confident in draw with Napoli after recovering from 3-2 down

Leonardo Balerdi spoke to the media after Napoli 1-1 Roma...

Leonardo Balerdi scored twice as Roma came away with a 3-3 draw at the Diego Armando Maradona against Napoli. The Argentine defender's brace earns him a special place in the club's history. He became the second player in Roma's history to score a double in Serie A against Napoli, following Agostino Di Bartolomei, who also scored twice on 20 February 1983. The result leaves Roma with a point from a high-scoring encounter in Naples. Balerdi's double places him alongside one of the club's most celebrated midfielders, Di Bartolomei, in the club's record books against their southern rivals. The article's remaining detail centres on the match itself and the comparison with Di Bartolomei's achievement, which came in a league fixture against Napoli more than four decades ago.

Napoli and Roma drew 3-3 at the Maradona in a wild game that Roma will see as a useful point, given how the match had gone, while Napoli feel they have been robbed. Anguissa put the hosts ahead in the first half with a spectacular acrobatic finish that left Gollini helpless. McTominay doubled the lead with a header early in the second half and Napoli pressed Roma hard. Roma responded after their substitutions. Malen and Soulé combined for the equaliser, and Soulé's curling shot made it 2-1. Five minutes later, substitute Balerdi headed Roma level. Napoli kept pushing and regained the lead in the 83rd minute, when McTominay struck a sharp shot for another brace. That was his second double after the one he scored in the Champions League against Bodo Glimt. Gasperini's side refused to give up, and in the dying seconds Balerdi rose highest to head in again. Napoli then complained about a foul, and Allegri was sent off for protesting. The result means Lazio and Inter can extend their lead at the top of the table. For Roma, the draw ends a match that looked lost at 3-2. Balerdi was the decisive figure, scoring both of Roma's late equalisers, and the team's response after the changes was the difference between defeat and a point. Soulé was also praised for another strong performance. In the match ratings, Balerdi and McTominay each received an 8, and Soulé a 7.5. The match ratings also carried the reactions from the pitch. McTominay's goals meant he now has two doubles in recent outings, and Napoli will feel the late equaliser deeply. Roma's ability to score three times away from home, and to level twice after falling behind, showed the spirit that Gasperini has asked for all season.

Leonardo Balerdi spoke to the media after Napoli 1-1 Roma...

Leonardo Balerdi scored twice as Roma came away with a 3-3 draw at the Diego Armando Maradona against Napoli. The Argentine defender's brace earns him a special place in the club's history. He became the second player in Roma's history to score a double in Serie A against Napoli, following Agostino Di Bartolomei, who also scored twice on 20 February 1983. The result leaves Roma with a point from a high-scoring encounter in Naples. Balerdi's double places him alongside one of the club's most celebrated midfielders, Di Bartolomei, in the club's record books against their southern rivals. The article's remaining detail centres on the match itself and the comparison with Di Bartolomei's achievement, which came in a league fixture against Napoli more than four decades ago.

Napoli and Roma drew 3-3 at the Maradona in a wild game that Roma will see as a useful point, given how the match had gone, while Napoli feel they have been robbed. Anguissa put the hosts ahead in the first half with a spectacular acrobatic finish that left Gollini helpless. McTominay doubled the lead with a header early in the second half and Napoli pressed Roma hard. Roma responded after their substitutions. Malen and Soulé combined for the equaliser, and Soulé's curling shot made it 2-1. Five minutes later, substitute Balerdi headed Roma level. Napoli kept pushing and regained the lead in the 83rd minute, when McTominay struck a sharp shot for another brace. That was his second double after the one he scored in the Champions League against Bodo Glimt. Gasperini's side refused to give up, and in the dying seconds Balerdi rose highest to head in again. Napoli then complained about a foul, and Allegri was sent off for protesting. The result means Lazio and Inter can extend their lead at the top of the table. For Roma, the draw ends a match that looked lost at 3-2. Balerdi was the decisive figure, scoring both of Roma's late equalisers, and the team's response after the changes was the difference between defeat and a point. Soulé was also praised for another strong performance. In the match ratings, Balerdi and McTominay each received an 8, and Soulé a 7.5. The match ratings also carried the reactions from the pitch. McTominay's goals meant he now has two doubles in recent outings, and Napoli will feel the late equaliser deeply. Roma's ability to score three times away from home, and to level twice after falling behind, showed the spirit that Gasperini has asked for all season.

Gianluca Mancini has said Roma never give up, speaking in full after the Napoli-Roma clash, an Serie A matchday eight fixture. "This Roma doesn't give up. We never have. This season we always believe, against strong teams we have never been knocked down. We believed, today Molina, Ghilardi, Balerdi and the others who came on added extra quality, the team always stays active. We're happy." Mancini was asked how the newcomers have settled in. "We were missing a bit, they have all arrived strong and young. Balerdi has brought leadership, Molina and De Roon, everyone who has arrived has increased the value of the squad. Last year we missed that a bit. We give everything for this shirt to bring home the result." On Anguissa's goal, Mancini said: "Sometimes you get them, other times you don't. How the Anguissa goal came about, we could have managed the ball better. It's part of these matches. The important thing was not to let ourselves be knocked down. Given how the game had gone, a point is fine."

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.

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini was pleased to salvage a point from a 3-3 draw at Napoli's Maradona stadium, speaking to DAZN after the match. He admitted Napoli were the better side for the first half hour, with Roma struggling to get out from their own half and to create chances, with one exception involving Donyell Malen. Roma finished the first half well and the second half was, in his words, a very good game with several chances and a real sense that they could win it. Gasperini said: "Yes, apart from the first half hour where Napoli were superior and we were in difficulty in our build-up and in creating situations, except for one with Malen. A good end to the first half and then in the second half it was a very beautiful game with several chances and the feeling we could win the match. The third goal could have destroyed us, but instead we showed great strength and we believed in the three points." On his side's composure, Gasperini praised his team's discipline. He said: "We were good, there was no frenzy, we kept our roles and our way of playing. The goals were of quality. We arrived well with many players, and good for those who came on, like Balerdi. Soulé had an extraordinary game, both in the first half and the second, as did Ndicka. We are in a great moment, we have conviction and we play good football, we have high morale, and in the final stages we felt more like we had lost two points, but given how it went, that's fine." Gasperini also looked back on Roma's three draws this season, against Inter, Como and Napoli. He said: "All three different. In all of them we had the sense of being competitive against teams who are the best. With Inter we came close to winning, with Como we played with 10 men for the whole second half. This match, considering the value of today's Napoli, has been a good shot of confidence for us for coming back to draw it." On Balerdi's two goals, Gasperini said: "He and De Roon are two players who were captains in their teams. Their contribution has been extraordinary from the start. The Argentine knows football and has fantastic energy, he is a great reinforcement for us." He also compared this side with the Atalanta team of the past, saying: "Clearly this is a different team, we even won 3-0. Napoli have always been a reference team, having won 2 Scudetti. If you are competitive with them, you can have the strength and confidence to play with many teams." Gasperini closed with a remark about Massimiliano Allegri's reaction to the end-of-match tensions: "I hope not with me, I didn't throw him out."