Leonardo Balerdi's Late Double Breaks Napoli Hearts As Roma Stay Unbeaten

Roma preserved their unbeaten status in Serie A as Leonardo Balerdi's 89th-minute goal snatched a thrilling 3-3 draw at Napoli on Saturday, while Lazio beat Parma to move to the top of the table. Gian Piero Gasperini's third-placed Roma are now four points behind Lazio, who sit three points clear of reigning champions Inter Milan, who host Fiorentina on Sunday. Scott McTominay thought he had won the game for Napoli with his second goal in the 83rd minute at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, but Balerdi completed his brace to ensure Roma extended their unbeaten start to the league campaign to eight matches.

"Even though Napoli were better than us in the first half, the team didn't panic," Roma coach Gasperini told DAZN.

"The substitutes made a significant contribution, both physically and mentally. This team has real strength of character."

Napoli, who suffered a surprise defeat at bottom club Venezia last weekend, are ninth in the table, 11 points behind Lazio.

Massimiliano Allegri's side had clinched a 4-3 Champions League win over Bodo/Glimt in a similarly entertaining game in midweek.

Napoli struck first when Frank Anguissa sent a brilliant bicycle kick into the corner of the net after Roma failed to clear a 28th-minute free-kick.

McTominay doubled the lead shortly after half-time, arriving late in the box to head home Matteo Politano's cross at the back post.

But Matias Soule ended his run of seven games without a goal in fine style to pull one back for the visitors, curling a shot into the bottom corner from outside the box with 20 minutes remaining.

Just four minutes later, Roma were level as Balerdi hammered home from close range after a corner.

McTominay collected the ball 30 yards from goal before firing a superb low strike past Roma goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini and into the corner with seven minutes remaining.

But Napoli could not hold on, as Balerdi powered in a header from Wesley Franca's inviting cross.

Allegri was sent off in the aftermath of the goal as Napoli argued, unsuccessfully, that Sam Beukema had been fouled in the build-up.

"I have no complaints about my team. They played a great match, defensively too, against a very strong Roma side," said Napoli boss Allegri.

Lazio Climb Above Inter

Lazio continued their dream start to the season under former Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso, beating Parma 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico.

The capital club have dropped just two points from their opening eight matches, in a 2-2 draw with AC Milan last month.

Dutch midfielder Kenneth Taylor put the hosts ahead in the 51st minute, latching onto a loose ball and calmly slotting home a low shot.

Parma defender Diego Carlos put through his own net seven minutes later and, although teenager Simone Lontani pulled one back for the visitors in stoppage time, Lazio held on for victory.

Lazio fans will be hoping for a surprise title challenge after their team failed to secure a top-six finish in any of the previous three seasons.

Earlier, Como backed up their impressive Champions League victory over Manchester United as Anastasios Douvikas scored twice in a 2-0 win over Sassuolo.

Cesc Fabregas's side climbed to fourth in the table, remaining five points behind Lazio.

Como were frustrated for long periods by a stubborn Sassuolo side but eventually secured a comfortable victory thanks to Douvikas' two goals in the space of 11 second-half minutes.

The Greece international has now scored five goals in his last four matches and eight across all competitions this season.

Como, who qualified for Europe for the first time in their history last term, thrashed Manchester United 4-1 in the Champions League in midweek.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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