Champions lose ground in title race as late Alisson Santos strike salvages point against tenacious Roma.

Napoli’s fading hopes of retaining their Serie A crown suffered another blow on Sunday evening as they were held to a pulse-pounding 2-2 draw by AS Roma at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. In a contest that swung violently between despair and elation, it was the brilliance of Roma’s Donyell Malen that nearly put the sword to the champions, only for a late intervention to rescue a solitary point for the hosts.

The result leaves Napoli third, drifting dangerously far from the summit occupied by Inter Milan, while Roma solidified their grip on fourth place. For the Partenopei, the evening was a stark reminder of the fragility that has plagued their title defense, characterized by defensive lapses and a reliance on moments of individual magic rather than systemic dominance.

The Malen Factor

Roma, buoyed by recent form, drew first blood just seven minutes into the contest. Donyell Malen, the Dutch forward who has revitalized his career since arriving on loan from Aston Villa in January, was the architect. Meeting a low cross from fellow winter arrival Bryan Zaragoza, Malen smashed the ball past the helpless Napoli goalkeeper at the near post. It was a goal of ruthless efficiency that silenced the home crowd and exposed the fissures in Napoli’s backline.

Napoli responded with the fury of a wounded beast. In the 40th minute, Leonardo Spinazzola, facing his former club, leveled the scores. The wing-back collected a loose ball outside the box and unleashed a thunderous drive that swerved wickedly before nesting in the corner. It was a moment of catharsis for Spinazzola and a lifeline for the hosts going into the break.

Late Drama and Redemption

The second half descended into a tactical chess match that exploded in the 71st minute. Roma regained the lead through a penalty won by Wesley Franca, whose driving run drew a clumsy foul from Amir Rrahmani. Malen stepped up and coolly converted his second of the night—his fifth goal in as many games—appearing to seal the victory for the Giallorossi.

However, Napoli refused to yield. In the 82nd minute, substitute Alisson Santos, introduced moments earlier to inject pace into the attack, became the savior. carving out space on the edge of the box, the Brazilian drilled a precision low shot inside the near post, sparking bedlam in the stands. While the point arrests a total collapse, the 11-point chasm to league leaders Inter Milan now looks insurmountable. As the whistle blew, the mood in Naples was one of resignation; the shield is slipping away, not with a bang, but with a series of chaotic, breathless draws.