Napoli and Roma battled to a thrilling 2-2 draw in Serie A on Sunday, February 15, 2026, with both sides showcasing attacking flair and resilience. The match, played at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples, saw Donyell Malen score twice for Roma, but Napoli responded each time to secure a point.
Malen opened the scoring in the 7th minute, capitalizing on a play involving January signing Bryan Zaragoza to give Roma an early lead. The goal marked Malen’s fourth in five Serie A appearances, establishing him as a key threat for the Giallorossi. However, Napoli wouldn’t remain behind for long.
Leonardo Spinazzola leveled the score for Napoli in the 40th minute, though the goal involved a deflection off of Roma’s Pisilli, leaving goalkeeper Mile Svilar with no chance. The first half ended with the score tied at 1-1.
Roma regained the lead through Malen once again in the 68th minute, converting a penalty after Wesley earned the spot kick. Malen’s successful penalty was his fifth goal in just five matches, a remarkable start to his Roma career.
Just when it seemed Roma had secured the victory, Napoli found an equalizer through substitute Alisson Santos in the 82nd minute. The Brazilian newcomer struck a powerful shot from the edge of the area, sparking wild celebrations and tears of joy among the Napoli faithful. The dramatic finish highlighted the impact of January signings on both teams.
The draw leaves Napoli with 50 points and Roma with 47 points, respectively, positioning them favorably in the Serie A standings. Napoli currently holds a four-point advantage over Juventus, while Roma is one point ahead. Both teams faced significant injury concerns heading into the match, with several key players unavailable.
According to reports, Napoli was without Scott McTominay, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, David Neres, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa, Kevin De Bruyne, and the suspended Juan Jesus. Roma was also dealing with absences, as Paulo Dybala, Manu Kone, Artem Dovbyk, Evan Ferguson, and Stephan El Shaarawy were unavailable, with Matias Soulé and Mario Hermoso not fully fit.
