Roma snatch draw at Napoli after Balerdi’s late double

Roma preserved their unbeaten league run with a 3-3 draw at Napoli on Saturday. Trailing 3-2 after Scott McTominay’s second goal in the 83rd minute, they levelled six minutes later through Leonardo Balerdi, who scored twice in the match. The result extended Roma’s unbeaten start to the league campaign to eight matches.

Napoli had gone 2-0 ahead through Frank Anguissa, with an overhead kick in the 28th minute, and McTominay, who headed home in the 48th. Matias Soulé pulled one back in the 69th minute before Balerdi made it 2-2 five minutes later. After McTominay restored Napoli’s lead, the Argentine earned Roma a point with an 89th-minute header.

Roma missed the chance to move top of Serie A but took a point from a dramatic match. Napoli had also played their first Champions League match of the season on Tuesday, beating Bodo Glimt 4-3.

After a Champions League win over Manchester United, Anastasios Douvikas scored twice in 11 minutes as his side beat Sassuolo 2-0. He opened the scoring five minutes into the second half, assisted by Caqueret, then completed the double in the 60th minute. Como went on to protect the lead.

Massimiliano Allegri lamented the missed chance to make it 3-0 but praised his side’s display: « I have nothing to reproach my team for; they played a great game, defensively too, against a very strong Roma side. » Gian Piero Gasperini, meanwhile, welcomed his players’ response: « The team did not panic, the substitutes brought a lot, physically and mentally; this team has character. »

In the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund moved top after a 1-0 home win over Eintracht Frankfurt, secured by Maximilian Beier’s goal in the 80th minute. It was the club’s first league victory since mid-September and put Niko Kovac’s side three points clear at the top.