Roma’s champion spirit keeps title hopes alive after Napoli draw

Roma Show Spirit of Champions in Naples as a hard‑earned point at Napoli keeps them within striking distance of the Serie A title race. The draw leaves them four points behind the league leaders and maintains their status as serious contenders.

Napoli test proves a catalyst

Roma’s blistering start to the 2026/27 Serie A season met another stern test as the Giallorossi travelled to Naples to face Max Allegri’s Napoli on 24 October. Gian Piero Gasperini had the Romans dreaming after an unbeaten run that almost ended at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Despite long periods of dominance, Roma fell 2‑0 behind inside 48 minutes when André‑Frank Zambo Anguissa and Scott McTominay each scored against the run of play. The Giallorossi refused to wilt and kept the ball deep inside Napoli’s half for a long spell.

Mattias Soule pulled a goal back with a stunning strike in the 69th minute. Five minutes later substitute Leonardo Balerbi lashed past Napoli keeper Alex Meret to level the score. Scott McTominay then unleashed a thumping 30‑yard rocket that flew past Pierluigi Gollini to give Napoli a 3‑2 lead. In the 89th minute Balerbi arrived unmarked in the Roma box and nodded past Meret to make it 3‑3.

Title race stays alive amid historic context

The draw leaves Roma four points adrift of Serie A’s top two after Lazio and Inter secured victories. Betting outlet 5Gringos lists Roma as an 11/2 second‑favourite, with Inter at 1/2.

Allegri collapses: Napoli in crisis, Inter fear Champions League

Last season’s third‑place finish was the club’s highest in eight years, yet they were 14 points behind the champions. The last time the capital side finished as runners‑up was in 2016/17 under Luciano Spalletti. Spalletti was given just over €50 million in the summer of 2016 to challenge Juventus. Juventus spent €90 million on Gonzalo Higuain, making him the third‑most expensive player in history.

In April Roma rallied from 1‑0 down to beat Juventus 3‑1 with two games remaining, keeping their title hopes alive. Juventus later claimed the championship with wins over Crotone and Bologna.

Gasperini said he was disappointed to leave the Maradona with only one point instead of three, given the team’s dominance. Roma trailed Atalanta by one goal near the 90th minute on matchday three, Mario Hermoso equalised and Mattias Soule scored in injury time.

Pedraza drives Lazio to the lead as Inter lose ground

The club also scored two second‑half goals to beat Genoa and were forced to settle for a 2‑2 draw with Inter at the Olimpico. Inter have already been beaten by Club Brugge at the San Siro.

Captain Lautaro Martínez has been struggling with injury niggles and manager Christian Chivu has faced criticism for his tactics. Gasperini will aim to prove his ideas over the next seven months, with a first Scudetto in over a quarter of a century within reach.