A two-goal lead that did not hold
Napoli and Roma played out a 3-3 draw in Serie A on 24 October, a game that [1] described as an epic battle. Both sides arrived off midweek Champions League wins. Napoli took a 2-0 lead, and Scott McTominay and André Zambo Anguissa were both confirmed as scorers for the home side, according to [2].
Roma did not accept the deficit. A separate [3] report says they came back from two goals down twice. Leonardo Balerdi scored twice, including the late equaliser, and Matias Soulé was also singled out for his display. The visitors treated the point as a missed chance to win, which says a lot about how the game ended. Napoli had the lead and the scoreline they wanted, and still finished the night level.
Allegri sent off and a ban to come
The other story from the night was on the touchline. Massimiliano Allegri was sent off after a controversial goal, and [4] reports that his angry reaction ended with staff holding him back. The same report says he is expected to be absent from the touchline for Napoli’s next match.
The suspension may not stop there. The report says his furious response to the dismissal could see the ban extended beyond one match, though that is listed as doubtful rather than settled. Until the disciplinary decision is known, Napoli should plan for at least one game without their coach beside the pitch. For a side that has just blown a two-goal lead, the loss of its main voice at the next fixture is a real cost. The staff will need clear instructions before the match, because they will have to make the in-game decisions.
Missing defenders and a leaky back line
The squad news is a bigger worry than the red card. [1] lists Alessandro Buongiorno, Costantino Favasuli, Alisson Santos and David Neres as missing. Amir Rrahmani is suffering flu symptoms and is doubtful. Benoît Badiashile also sustained a muscular issue and will be evaluated over the next 48 hours, per [2].
That matters because Napoli have been conceding freely. The same report notes they have let in multiple goals in recent matches, including the 4-3 win over Bodo/Glimt. The club’s own records back this up. Across their last five matches in all competitions they have scored 11 and conceded 10. With a centre-back unavailable and another doubtful, the coaching staff have few easy options for repairing the defence before the next game.
What it means
Napoli are tenth in Serie A with 11 points from eight games, with three wins, two draws and three defeats. They have scored 13 and conceded 10 in the league. The recent run is mixed: a 3-0 win over Frosinone Calcio, a 1-3 loss at Villarreal CF in the Champions League, a 0-1 defeat at Venezia FC, the 4-3 win over FK Bodø/Glimt and now the 3-3 draw with Roma. That is two wins, one draw and two defeats from the last five. The goals are arriving, but the defence is conceding almost as many as the attack scores.
The next fixture asks direct questions. Napoli travel to Monza on 28 October in Serie A, with Allegri expected to be absent from the touchline and a depleted defence. The site’s forecast for that match locks 24 hours before kick-off, so there is no call to publish yet. The tests are whether Napoli can protect a lead without their coach on the touchline and whether Rrahmani and Badiashile are fit. A side in tenth place cannot afford many more draws like the one against Roma.
Sources
- Football Italia: Serie A | Napoli 3-3 Roma: Epic battle with McTominay and Balerdi braces football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Allegri enraged after Napoli 3-3 Roma: ‘Maybe I shouldn’t be on the touchline’ football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Gasperini: ‘Roma felt we could win, 3-3 at Napoli a positive confidence booster’ football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: What happened when furious Allegri was sent off in Napoli 3-3 Roma football-italia.net ↩
