Angelino’s dramatic stoppage-time strike denied Napoli the chance to extend their lead at the top of Serie A, as Roma fought back to secure a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.
Napoli had an opportunity to go five points clear at the summit after Inter Milan dropped points earlier in the day against AC Milan. However, Antonio Conte’s men were left frustrated as Roma snatched a late equalizer, leaving Napoli with just a three-point lead, while Inter still have a game in hand.
⚽ Match Summary
- Napoli Goalscorer: Leonardo Spinazzola (29′)
- Roma Goalscorer: Angelino (90+2′)
📝 Key Moments
29’ – Goal! Spinazzola Gives Napoli the Lead (0-1)
Against his former club, Leonardo Spinazzola latched onto a long ball from Juan Jesus, showing great composure to loft it over Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar, giving Napoli a deserved first-half lead.
50’ – Paredes Nearly Levels for Roma
Roma responded strongly after the break. Leandro Paredes came agonizingly close to equalizing with a stunning free-kick that left Alex Meret rooted to the spot, but the ball drifted just inches wide.
90+2’ – Goal! Angelino’s Thunderbolt Saves Roma (1-1)
With Napoli moments away from securing all three points, Alexis Saelemaekers whipped in a precise cross from the right. Angelino met it at the edge of the box, unleashing a sensational first-time volley into the bottom corner—leaving Meret with no chance and the Stadio Olimpico erupting.
📊 Match Stats
- Possession: Roma 47% | Napoli 53%
- Shots: Roma 11 (4 on target) | Napoli 13 (5 on target)
- Corners: Roma 5 | Napoli 6
- Fouls: Roma 14 | Napoli 11
- Expected Goals (xG): Roma 0.95 | Napoli 1.23
⭐ Player of the Match: Angelino (8.4/10)
The Spaniard’s late equalizer was a moment of pure brilliance. Despite being quiet for most of the game, his technical ability shone through when it mattered most.
🔍 Tactical Breakdown
- Roma:
Claudio Ranieri’s pragmatic setup saw Roma absorb Napoli’s pressure, looking to strike on the counter. They lacked cutting edge for most of the match but showed resilience and character to steal a point late on. - Napoli:
Conte’s Napoli controlled large spells of the game, especially after taking the lead. However, their inability to kill off the match cost them dearly, as they dropped points for the first time in eight games.
📈 Data Debrief: Late Goals a Roma Specialty
- Roma’s Late Show:
Roma have now scored 28 goals from the 90th minute onwards in Serie A over the last five seasons—more than any other team in the league since 2020-21. - Napoli’s Title Chase:
Despite the draw, Napoli’s 54 points after 23 games this season remains impressive. In the three-points-per-win era (since 1994-95), they’ve only had better tallies twice:- 2017-18: 60 points
- 2022-23: 62 points
💬 Post-Match Reactions
🎙️ Antonio Conte (Napoli Head Coach):
“We controlled the game well but switched off at the crucial moment. This is Serie A—every second counts. We must learn from this.”
🎙️ Claudio Ranieri (Roma Head Coach):
“This team never gives up. Angelino’s goal is the reward for our persistence. It’s a point that feels like a victory.”
🔮 What’s Next?
- Napoli:
They remain top but face a crucial clash next week as they look to bounce back and maintain their title charge. - Roma:
This result keeps them in the European hunt, with their late fighting spirit giving them momentum heading into their next fixtures.
📊 Final Score:
Roma 1-1 Napoli
