Roma starting XI (3-4-2-1): Svilar, Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso, Celik, Cristante (subbed for El Aynaoui), Kone, Wesley (subbed for El Shaarawy), Soulé (subbed for Dybala), Pellegrini (subbed for Bailey), Ferguson (subbed for Baldanzi)

Bench: Vasquez, Gollini, Rensch, Tsimikas, Ziolkowski, Sangaré, Ghilardi, Pisilli

Napoli starting XI (3-4-3): Milinkovic-Savic, Beukema, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Di Lorenzo, Lobotka, McTominay, Olivera, Neres (subbed for Lucca), Hojlund (subbed for Elmas), Lang (subbed for Politano)

Bench: Contini, Ferrante, Juan Jesus, Mazzocchi, Marianucci, Spinazzola, Vergara, Ambrosino

Goals: Neres 36’

Roma came into the game with plenty of confidence and momentum, hoping to return to the Serie A summit.

The opening stages were lively, with both sides probing and looking to impose themselves. But it was Napoli who landed first: in the 36th minute, a swift counter-attack saw David Neres latch onto a chance and finish with composure, sending the away supporters into raptures.

The second half belonged to Roma as they pressed hard for an equaliser. The hosts stretched the play, pushed full-backs forward and tried to exploit any spaces behind Napoli’s defence.

However, Napoli defended with discipline—denying clear-cut chances and blocking shots to the frustration of Roma’s more creative players.

As the minutes ticked away, Roma’s urgency grew, but the final ball was often off-target or intercepted. Napoli, by contrast, remained organised and disciplined, absorbing the pressure brilliantly.

For Napoli, the win halts Roma’s climb and sees them move level on points with league leaders AC Milan—a timely result in an increasingly tight title race.

For Roma, it’s yet another loss against a fellow title challenger—one that perhaps dents their own credentials in the eyes of the league.