Soulé, the heartbeat of Roma as the Napoli match turns on Balerdi's late goal

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.

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."

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.

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."