Serie A | Napoli 2-2 Roma: New buys do battle as Alisson silences Malen | OneFootball

Napoli fought their way back twice from Donyell Malen goals to hold Roma to a thrilling 2-2 draw with Leonardo Spinazzola and Alisson Santos, on a big night for January buys.

Both sides were forced into changes by an injury crisis. Scott McTominay joined Giovanni Di Lorenzo, David Neres, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa, Kevin De Bruyne and suspended Juan Jesus in the stands, but Matteo Politano returned to the starting XI after a Coppa Italia penalty shoot-out defeat to Como midweek. Paulo Dybala, Manu Kone, Artem Dovbyk, Evan Ferguson and Stephan El Shaarawy didn’t make the trip, with Matias Soulé and Mario Hermoso not fully fit either, so Bryan Zaragoza got his first start.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Gian Piero Gasperini AS Roma head coach greets Antonio Conte SSC Napoli head coach before the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AS Roma at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 15, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

It took just seven minutes to break the deadlock, as the two January buys combined down the right with Zaragoza rolling across for Malen to come sliding in with the right foot from seven yards. This was the ex-Aston Villa striker’s fourth goal in five Serie A games.

Rasmus Hojlund felt he was dragged down by Evan Ndicka in a promising position, but the referee waved play on, while Stanislav Lobotka’s half-volley was straight at Mile Svilar.

NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli battles for possession with Wesley and Evan Ndicka of AS Roma during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AS Roma at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 15, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Malen scuffed just wide after shrugging off Amir Rrahmani to push forward from the centre-circle, while Nicolò Pisilli also drilled past the near post and Wesley’s effort was charged down after controlling a long ball.

NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Donyell Malen of AS Roma celebrates after scoring his side first goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AS Roma at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 15, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Napoli equalised after a long passing move, as Leonardo Spinazzola’s screamer from outside the area took a deflection off Pisilli to loop up and over a helpless Mile Svilar. It was a special goal for the former Roma player.

Soulé came on for the restart, but Napoli came out fighting and Spinazzola’s control and strike forced a tricky save out of Svilar.

NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Leonardo Spinazzola of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring his side first goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AS Roma at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 15, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Wesley sprinted down the left and in a desperate bid to run after him, Rrahmani bundled into the back of the Brazilian for a penalty, a tangle of legs that saw both players injured. Malen converted into the top corner with a short run-up to complete his brace and beat Milinkovic-Savic.

Alisson Santos cut inside to test Svilar and Billy Gilmour made his comeback for the first time since early November 2025.

The January signing made an immediate impact, as he gathered the Giovane through ball and drilled a ferocious strike into the near bottom corner from the edge of the area. Alisson Santos was visibly emotional at his first goal for Napoli.

The hosts kept pushing in search of a winner, having fought their way back twice from a goal down, as while Robinio Vaz had a shot charged down, at the other end Svilar got down to fingertip away the Miguel Gutierrez daisy-cutter.

Napoli 2-2 Roma

Malen 7, pen 71 (R), Spinazzola 40 (N), Alisson Santos 82 (N)