Napoli 3-3 Roma: Balerdi equalises in the 89th minute

Napoli drew 3-3 with Roma and it feels like a defeat. They had the game in their hands more than once and let it slip again, in the 89th minute. Against a side of similar standing, this was a match the fanbase wanted closed out. It was not.

Then the game turned. In the 58th minute Roma made three substitutions at once: Molina, Balerdi and Castro came on. Allegri answered in the 66th by replacing Politano with Giovane. In the 69th Soulé, set up by Malen, made it 2-1. In the 74th Balerdi, from a Castro assist, levelled at 2-2.

Napoli conceded twice in five minutes, and the numbers say it was no fluke. Roma had 24 shots to Napoli's 15, and 11 corners to 2.

The response came from the same source as in the first half. In the 83rd minute Olivera crossed for McTominay, who scored his second and made it 3-2. Allegri had just made a triple change: Lobotka, Vergara and Spinazzola came on between the 79th and 80th minutes. Napoli only had to hold the lead for a few minutes.

In the 89th minute Balerdi struck again, from a Wesley assist, to make it 3-3. Allegri was sent off in the 90th.

The draw leaves Napoli sixth on 13 points, with Roma third on 17. It also leaves a defence that gave way twice in the second half, and a debate about Allegri and about how the team manages a game once it is in front.

Next up is Monza on Wednesday 28 October at 20:45 CET (19:45 UK, 14:45 ET). Napoli go into it with that question still open.