Napoli fumbled another lead in a big game and can probably say goodbye to the Scudetto after a 1-1 draw with Roma, snatched by Stephan El Shaarawy in stoppages.
This was a big showdown with a great deal at stage, as the Partenopei needed a win to stay in the Scudetto race after a home defeat to Fiorentina, while the Giallorossi could close within three points of fourth-placed Juventus.
David Ospina was out with flu symptoms, so Alex Meret made his first appearance since February 24, having fractured a vertebra in his back for the second time this season. Giovanni Di Lorenzo was also still out of action, while Roma were unbeaten in 11 Serie A games and qualified for the Conference League semi-finals.
Roger Ibanez clumsily bundled into the back of Hirving Lozano and after an on-field VAR review the penalty was awarded. Lorenzo Insigne converted calmly into the near bottom corner, despite Rui Patricio picking the right angle.
Napoli had a double chance to make it 2-0, Chris Smalling making the block on Victor Osimhen and Rui Patricio sticking out a hand to deny Lozano at the near post on the rebound.
Roma rattled the woodwork when Osimhen accidentally flicked a Lorenzo Pellegrini free kick onto the crossbar.
Nicola Zalewski tested Meret at the near post, while Gianluca Mancini made a crucial block on Osimhen straight after the restart.
There was bad news for Napoli, as Stanislav Lobotka immediately called for a substitution after pulling his hamstring.
Lorenzo Pellegrini got away from Kalidou Koulibaly only to scuff his finish at Meret, but Tammy Abraham really should’ve scored when he completely mis-timed the header on a Rick Karsdorp cross at the back post.
Gianluca Mancini also nodded a Pellegrini free kick wide, then moments later Mario Rui made the decisive block on Pellegrini from close range as Abraham knocked it down.
Piotr Zielinski drilled wide and Eljif Elmas tested Rui Patricio from distance, but Zaniolo was booked and will be suspended against Inter.
Roma were furious on 77 minutes when Zaniolo ran onto a Stephan El Shaarawy pass and Meret came flying out, but while he did catch the player, the goalkeeper got the ball first.
Osimhen sprung the offside trap on a ball over the top and shrugged off his marker only to hit the side-netting.
Napoli made a series of defensive changes and they were costly, because Roma got their equaliser with a well-worked move from right to left, Abraham’s back-heel flick finding Stephan El Shaarawy totally unmarked to sweep in from just inside the area.
The momentum was all with Roma in stoppages, as they were the ones pushing for a winner.
Napoli 1-1 Roma
Insigne pen 11 (N), El Shaarawy 91 (R)
why should Napoli say goodbye to the scudetto? They are just 2 points and 4 points from inter and Milan. Unless the writer has seen the future, he should be calm
Because they couldn’t beat Fort William at home on current form!
It’s over because there’s just too much pressure and Spalleti and even Milan just can’t handle it. Inter are not that good in terms of players have the advantage of believing they’ve already done it before and just need to stay focus. Napoli are about to finish their difficult run of matches while Milan are just starting them. I won’t be surprised if Napoli finished second
Still in the title race, but hanging by a thread now.
It would have been nice if they’d won it, just to have different winner for a change. We’ve only had 3 winners in over 20 years.
At first was favoring Napoli and Atalanta for scudetto seeing how good they rebuilt the squad in recent years,but to many inconsistencies on 2nd half of the season.i guess the mentalities wasn’t there
Inter have the superior squad currently – they will be champions and considering the quality gap between their team and us and Napoli, I think it shows how well pioli has done with our team. Inter should be 20+ points ahead of us at this stage of the season and the fact they aren’t gives us hope if inzaghi stays on next year