Donyell Malen nets brace as Roma draw with Napoli in thrilling Serie A clash | OneFootball

Napoli were held to a 2-2 by Roma in Serie A at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Sunday evening.

Donyell Malen gave Roma the lead in the seventh minute, powering Bryan Zaragoza’s cross beyond Vanja Milinkovic-Savic’s reach.

Malen went close to getting a second for the visitors, showing power and composure to evade his markers after a quick counter, but could only drag his effort wide.

Leonardo Spinazzola drew the defending champions level in the 39th minute as his shot deflected off Niccolo Pisilli and beyond the outstretched Mile Svilar.

Svilar denied Spinazzola from completing the turnaround in the 48th minute, parrying the full-back’s effort away at full-stretch.

The Roma goalkeeper then made a comfortable save in the 64th minute, gathering Miguel Gutierrez’s header at the back post.

At the other end, the visitors were awarded a penalty following Amir Rrahmani’s foul on Wesley. Malen stepped up and converted to net his second of the night.

The Aston Villa loanee has now become the third player to score at least four goals in his five league appearances for Roma since the 1994/95 season.

Debutant Alisson Santos restored parity for Napoli in the 82nd minute, smashing a shot past Svilar to score his first goal for the club.

Gutierrez almost netted the winner for the hosts in stoppage time, but was denied by Svilar.

Napoli remain third in the standings, three points clear of Roma, but 11 points behind leaders Inter Milan, who beat Juventus 3-2 on Saturday.