Mansion Sports – Napoli secured an important result in the Serie A title race after defeating AS Roma 1–0 at the Stadio Olimpico.

A single first-half goal from David Neres was enough to bring the Partenopei level with the league leaders while extending their dominance over Roma, having suffered only one defeat in their last 12 encounters.

Roma, who entered the match with a two-point advantage over Napoli and were enjoying their best start to a season since 2017/18, aimed to reclaim the top spot following AC Milan’s win the previous day.

Napoli Take Control Immediately After Kick-off

Napoli displayed greater aggression from the opening whistle. Their high pressing produced two early threats: a driven effort from Rasmus Højlund that was stopped by Mile Svilar, and a volley from Giovanni Di Lorenzo that struck the side netting.

Napoli’s dominance continued, forcing Svilar into several more saves, including one that denied a dangerous cross from Noa Lang. Roma responded through Evan Ferguson, yet neither of his two chances found the target.

In the 36th minute, a lapse in Roma’s concentration proved costly. A swift Napoli counterattack concluded with a precise pass from Højlund to David Neres, who calmly lifted the ball over Svilar to give Napoli a 1–0 lead.

Roma Attempt to Respond as Napoli Maintain Their Structure

Entering the second half, Napoli continued to apply pressure. Scott McTominay nearly doubled the advantage with a close-range opportunity, but Svilar reacted sharply once again to keep Roma within reach.

Roma, known for their strong second-half surges, attempted to mount a comeback. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini introduced Paulo Dybala and Neil El Aynaoui to add creativity and force in the attacking phase.

Although Roma controlled possession for much of the final 30 minutes, they struggled to create clear chances.

Napoli instead came close to scoring again in the 90th minute, when Tommaso Baldanzi’s low effort forced Vanja Milinković-Savić into an exceptional save that preserved the lead.

When the final whistle sounded, Napoli successfully protected their narrow 1–0 advantage. The result dealt a setback to Roma while reinforcing the effectiveness of Antonio Conte’s tactical approach.

Roma vs Napoli Match Statistics