Napoli returned to Serie A action on Sunday evening, but star midfielder Scott McTominay sat out the match due to injury. The former Manchester United player, who has frequently dominated headlines, took a backseat to another ex-Premier League forward once considered expendable.
Donyell Malen, on loan at Roma from Aston Villa since the winter window, netted a brace at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, marking his fifth goal in five appearances for the Giallorossi. Malen put Roma ahead twice against Napoli, only for the hosts to equalize through Leonardo Spinazzola—scoring versus his old club—and debutant Alisson Santos. Santos arrived on loan from Sporting CP just two weeks prior.
Match Result Keeps Napoli Ahead
The 2-2 draw leaves Napoli in third place, with Roma trailing by three points in fourth. Despite the home stalemate against a top rival, the outcome proved valuable given Napoli’s absences.
Italian Outlets Highlight Key Absences and Performances
Il Napolista emphasized the impact of missing players like McTominay. “In the end, all’s well that ends well. Especially considering how things were going,” the outlet noted. “It’s worth remembering that Conte’s team played without McTominay and the final twenty minutes without Amir Rrahmani, who was injured and caused the penalty to make it 2-1. Napoli avoided being overtaken by Roma, who remain on three points, but it feels like four because the Azzurri are ahead in the head-to-head matches.”
Without McTominay, Eljif Elmas shifted deeper but struggled, according to Il Messaggero. “He has his usual dynamism, but struggles against Bryan Cristante, who does a good job of limiting him,” the report observed.
Contrastingly, Malen shone brightly. Il Messaggero praised his early strike: “Just seven minutes in, he turns the only good play from the young Bryan Zaragoza into gold.” The Dutch forward consistently threatened Napoli’s defense, nearly adding a third on a solo run. “He was asked to score against a big team, and he didn’t hold back.”
Corriere dello Sport pointed to Napoli’s extensive injury list, including McTominay, Frank Anguissa, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, and David Neres. “Without four key players like McTominay, Anguissa, Di Lorenzo, and Neres, their identity is completely upended,” analysts noted.
Roma Manager Lauds Malen
Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini hailed Malen’s impact. “Malen? I’ve always been incredibly confident,” the former Atalanta boss stated. “We would have a few more points if we’d had the striker all season long. He has the best attributes for a striker in my opinion. This team needs someone like him; he’s often put in a dangerous position. However, we can always do better.”
Napoli Eyes McTominay Extension
Recent reports indicate Napoli seeks a contract extension for McTominay. “He isn’t just the present: he’s the future,” sources close to the club affirm.
