Napoli Draw Roma 3-3 in Derby del Sole Thriller as McTominay and Balerdi Score Braces

Napoli and AS Roma drew 3-3 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples on Saturday, October 24, 2026, in a Derby del Sole that swung from one side to the other in the final minutes. Scott McTominay scored twice for Napoli and Leonardo Balerdi scored twice for Roma, and the visitors came from behind twice to take a point from the Serie A Matchday 8 fixture.

Frank Anguissa gave Napoli the lead in the 28th minute with an overhead kick. Football Italia described the finish as a bicycle kick, and Tribal Football reported that Matteo Politano's free kick was headed out by Marten de Roon before Anguissa scored. It was the first league goal Roma had conceded before half time this season, and Napoli held the 1-0 lead at the break.

McTominay doubles the lead

McTominay made it 2-0 three minutes after half time, in the 48th minute, heading in a Politano cross at the back post. At that point Napoli were in full control of the match, and Roma's unbeaten record looked close to ending.

Both teams had come into the game off midweek Champions League victories. Napoli had lost 3-1 to Venezia in Serie A before this match, with Kevin De Bruyne continuing in a deeper playmaker role. Roma had Donyell Malen back from suspension, while Lorenzo Pellegrini, Paulo Dybala, Manu Kone and Mile Svilar were all on the treatment table, according to Football Italia.

Roma fight back twice

Matias Soule pulled a goal back for Roma in the 69th minute. He played a one-two with Malen and curled the ball into the bottom corner to make it 2-1. Five minutes later, in the 74th minute, Balerdi levelled the match at 2-2. Santiago Castro chested the ball down after a corner and Balerdi lashed it home.

Napoli went back in front in the 83rd minute. Goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini parried a Leonardo Spinazzola attempt, and McTominay, assisted by Mathias Olivera, drilled the ball low through a crowd of legs into the near bottom corner from outside the area for his second goal of the match and a 3-2 lead.

Roma were not finished. In the 89th minute Wesley Franca stood up a cross and Balerdi headed in at the back post. Football Italia reported that goalkeeper Alex Meret clawed the header onto the upright but the ball had already crossed the line, and VAR found no foul on Sam Beukema in the build-up despite Napoli's claims. Balerdi's second goal made it 3-3.

There was still time for one more flashpoint. Napoli head coach Massimiliano Allegri was sent off with a straight red card in the first minute of stoppage time. Football Italia's liveblog reported Allegri shouting on the touchline as he was dismissed: "What did I say? Tell me what I said? No, NO!"

Unbeaten record survives

The draw keeps Roma unbeaten in Serie A this season, with five wins and three draws. Betora recorded Roma with 60 percent possession and 24 shots, 4 on target, against Napoli's 40 percent possession and 15 shots, 9 on target, and the corner count finished 11 to 2 in Roma's favour. Napoli will count the cost of a two goal lead lost at home, while Roma leave Naples with a point they twice had to chase.