Napoli 2-2 Roma Player Ratings: Donyell Malen Shines in Thrilling 2-2 Draw Against Gli Azzurri

Napoli and AS Roma played out an intense draw at the electric Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. From the opening whistle to the end, momentum kept swinging with a few individual brilliances. Though statistically SSC Napoli were superior given thier 61% possession and 85% passing accuracy, it was AS Roma who made most of the chances fall to them with an impressive xG of 1.70 compared to the home side's 0.58.

From ruthless finishing on the counter to late-game heroes off the bench, the Napoli vs Roma player ratings tell a story of composure under pressure, defensive lapses, and match-changing contributions on both ends of the pitch in a dramatic 2-2 draw that never stopped swinging. Let's take a look at the player performances and what ratings they received in the Napoli vs Roma player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Roma’s counter-attacking threat was deadly throughout the night, with Malen’s movement and finishing constantly exposing Napoli’s shaky defensive structure.
• Napoli controlled large spells of possession but only looked truly dangerous once Conte’s substitutes injected urgency and creativity late in the game.
• Individual brilliance proved decisive on both ends, as long-range stunners and clutch moments shaped a high-tempo 2-2 draw.

Roma Player Ratings vs Napoli

Here are the AS Roma player ratings against SSC Napoli.

Goalkeeper

Mile Svilar - 7.5: What stood out to us was Svilar's composure under pressure. He made five crucial saves, and a couple of them in the dying minutes were absolutely vital to securing a point for Roma. While he conceded twice, there was little he could do about the brilliant strike from Spinazzola or the late equalizer. He commanded his box reasonably well, especially from high balls.

Defenders

Evan Ndicka - 7.5: We noticed Ndicka was a rock at the back. His reading of the game was exceptional, leading to five interceptions and an impressive seven clearances. With a 95% pass accuracy, he was also calm and collected in possession, helping to build from the back. He barely put a foot wrong all evening.

Gianluca Mancini - 6.0: A mixed performance from Mancini. He picked up a needless yellow card and seemed a bit rash at times, committing a couple of fouls. However, he also made a whopping nine clearances, which shows he was in the thick of the action. He lost a few key duels, and his distribution wasn't always on point.

Daniele Ghilardi - 6.0: It was an okay evening for Ghilardi. He was strong in the tackle, winning three of his four attempts, and was a physical presence. However, we felt he was caught out of position on occasion and his passing into the final third lacked conviction. He did his job without any major errors but also without any real distinction.

Midfielders

Bryan Cristante - 6.5: As captain, Cristante provided a steady presence in the middle of the park. His passing was generally neat and tidy, and he worked hard to recover the ball. What stood out was his effort, but he didn't really stamp his authority on the game or create anything of note.

Zeki Çelik - 7.5: Çelik was quietly one of Roma's best players. He was immense in his defensive duties, winning every single one of his seven duels. That's an incredible statistic. He also made seven clearances and was a constant thorn in Napoli's side. He didn't offer a huge amount going forward, but his defensive solidity was priceless.

Niccolò Pisilli - 5.5: A difficult evening for the young midfielder. While he showed great energy and recovered the ball nine times, he struggled to make an impact on the game offensively. He lost possession a few times, and his only shot was off target. He was eventually substituted after a quiet 65 minutes.

Wesley - 7.0: A very lively and impactful performance from Wesley. His most significant contribution was winning the penalty that put Roma 2-1 up, showing great determination to drive into the box. He was a constant nuisance for the Napoli defence before he was subbed off. He did lose the ball a few times but his positive, direct play made things happen.

Forwards

Lorenzo Pellegrini - 7.0: Pellegrini was the creative spark for Roma in his 65 minutes on the pitch. He created two chances and was always looking to unlock the opposition's defence. His link-up play was good and he looked dangerous whenever he got on the ball. It was a shame to see him go off, as Roma lost some of their creative edge after his departure.

Donyell Malen - 9.0: Unquestionably the man of the match. Malen was simply lethal. He opened the scoring with a cool finish after a swift counter-attack and then showed nerves of steel to smash home the penalty. His movement was a nightmare for defenders all game. This was a clinical, match-winning performance that was only denied the full three points by a late equalizer.

Bryan Zaragoza - 6.5: Zaragoza had a bright first half, providing a clever assist for Malen's opening goal. He looked tricky and keen to take on his man. However, his influence faded as the half went on, and he was surprisingly substituted at half-time.

Substitutes

Multiple Substitutes - N/A: Matías Soulé, Neil El Aynaoui, Lorenzo Venturino, Kostas Tsimikas, and Robinio Vaz all came on for Roma, but none had enough time or a decisive moment to warrant a specific rating. They helped see the game out and contributed to the team effort.

Manager

G. Gasperini - 6.5: Gasperini set his team up to be dangerous on the break, and it paid off with two goals. His side showed resilience to take the lead twice away from home. However, they couldn't hold on at the end. The substitutions felt a bit disruptive, particularly taking off Pellegrini. A decent result, but it could have been even better.

Napoli Player Ratings vs Roma

Check out the Napoli player ratings vs Roma.

Goalkeeper

Vanja Milinković-Savić - 5.0: A difficult night for the Napoli keeper. He was sent the wrong way for the penalty and could do little about the first goal. He didn't make any glaring errors, but he also didn't produce any saves that you wouldn't expect him to make. He looked a bit shaky and his distribution was mixed.

Defenders

Alessandro Buongiorno - 6.5: Buongiorno was a warrior at the back. He threw himself into tackles, winning a high percentage of his duels and making some crucial interventions. However, he was part of a defensive unit that looked vulnerable and conceded twice. He fought hard, but the defence as a whole lacked cohesion, which wasn't entirely his fault.

Amir Rrahmani - 4.0: From our perspective, this was a disaster of a performance from Rrahmani. He made a clumsy, reckless challenge to give away the penalty that put his team behind. It was a moment of madness. He was booked for the foul and eventually subbed off.

Sam Beukema - 6.0: Beukema was comfortable on the ball, with a high pass completion rate. He helped build attacks from the back. Defensively, however, he was less convincing. We noticed he was dribbled past on a couple of occasions and seemed to struggle with the pace of Roma's counter-attacks.

Midfielders

Miguel Gutiérrez - 7.0: A really solid all-round display from Gutiérrez. He was strong defensively, winning most of his duels and making three tackles. He also offered a threat going forward, forcing a great save from Svilar late in the game.

Eljif Elmas - 7.0: Elmas was the provider for Spinazzola's superb goal, and he was a key cog in Napoli's midfield. His passing was crisp and accurate, and he kept the play moving forward. He worked hard off the ball, too.

Leonardo Spinazzola - 8.0: What a goal! Spinazzola's long-range strike to level the scores was a moment of pure magic. Beyond the goal, he was a constant threat with his powerful runs and positive play. He was Napoli's most dangerous player for much of his time on the pitch.

Stanislav Lobotka - 6.5: Lobotka was the metronome in Napoli's midfield. He dictated the tempo with his calm and accurate passing, rarely giving the ball away. He protected the back four reasonably well but didn't offer a great deal in an attacking sense.

Forwards

Rasmus Højlund - 5.0: We felt for Højlund, it was a deeply frustrating evening. He was physically dominated by the Roma defenders, losing seven of his eleven duels. He struggled to hold up the ball or get into any dangerous positions. The service to him wasn't great, but he offered very little in return.

Matteo Politano - 5.5: As captain, we expected more from Politano. He had a very quiet game, struggling to make any impact in the final third. He lost possession too easily, and his final ball was lacking. It was no surprise when he was substituted late in the game after an anonymous display.

Antonio Vergara - 5.5: Vergara showed plenty of effort but lacked the quality to make a difference. He was caught offside and dispossessed a couple of times. He worked hard for the team but ultimately couldn't provide the spark Napoli needed in attack.

Substitutes

Alisson Santos - 7.5: What an impact! Coming off the bench, Santos was the hero for Napoli. He scored the crucial equalizer with a well-taken shot from outside the box. That goal saved a point for his team and showed the manager's substitution was a masterstroke.

Giovane - 7.0: Another substitute who made a vital contribution. Giovane provided the assist for Santos's equalizer, showing great awareness to set up his teammate. His introduction helped change the game for Napoli.

Manager

A. Conte - 7.0: Conte deserves immense credit for his substitutions. Bringing on Alisson Santos and Giovane proved to be a game-changing decision that earned his team a point. His side showed great character to fight back twice. However, he needs to sort out the defensive frailties that saw his team concede twice at home.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's Man of the Match goes to Donyell Malen.

Worst Performer

Amir Rrahmani was the worst performer in Napoli vs Roma match.