This evening, life unfolded rapidly for those in the Roma camp, as the Giallorossi watched their first-half lead evaporate due to a familiar adversary.
The capital team got off to a strong start at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with an impressive seventh-minute goal from the in-form striker Donyell Malen.
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However, despite Antonio Conte’s squad grappling with injury issues, the Partenopei fought back, leveling the score just five minutes before the half-time break with a strike from former Roma player Leonardo Spinazzola.
At 32 years old, and nearing the end of his career in Italy’s top league, the Umbrian-born midfielder, who made over 100 appearances for Roma from 2019 to 2024, saw his deflected shot from distance find the net, igniting joyous celebrations among the home fans.
By scoring, Spinazzola became only the fourth Italian player to net from outside the box in this fixture over the past two decades, joining legends Daniele De Rossi (2007), Francesco Totti (2009), and Lorenzo Insigne (2020).
This goal couldn’t have come at a better moment, as Napoli were grappling with a challenging 2025/26 Serie A season and struggling to keep up with league leaders Inter.
Is there still one last dramatic twist in this latest chapter of the Derby del Sole?