Unbeaten Roma snatch draw at Napoli, Lazio move top of Serie A

ROME, Italy (AFP) — Roma preserved their unbeaten status in Serie A as Leonardo Balerdi's 89th-minute goal snatched a thrilling 3-3 draw at Napoli on Saturday, while Lazio saw off Parma to move top of the table. Gian Piero Gasperini's third-placed Roma are now four points behind Lazio, who are three clear of reigning champions Inter Milan who host Fiorentina on Sunday. Scott McTominay thought he had won the game for Napoli with his second goal in the 83rd minute at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, but Balerdi completed his own brace to ensure Roma extended their undefeated start to the league campaign to eight matches. "Even though Napoli were better than us in the first half, the team didn't panic," Roma coach Gasperini told DAZN. "The substitutes made a significant contribution, both physically and mentally. This team has real strength of character." Napoli, who suffered a surprise loss at bottom club Venezia last weekend, are ninth in the table, 11 points adrift of Lazio. Massimiliano Allegri's side had clinched a 4-3 Champions League win over Bodo/Glimt in a similarly exciting game in midweek. Napoli struck first when Frank Anguissa sent a brilliant bicycle kick into the corner of the net after Roma failed to clear a 28th-minute free-kick. McTominay doubled the lead shortly after half-time, arriving late in the box in trademark fashion to head home Matteo Politano's cross at the back post. But Matias Soule ended his run of seven games without a goal in fine style to pull one back for the visitors, curling a shot into the bottom corner from outside the box with 20 minutes remaining. Just four minutes later and Roma were level, as substitute Balerdi hammered home from close range after a corner. McTominay collected the ball 30 yards from goal before firing an excellent low strike past Roma goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini and into the corner with seven minutes remaining. But Napoli could not hold on, as Balerdi powered in a header from Wesley Franca's inviting cross. Allegri was sent off in the aftermath of the goal, as Napoli argued to no avail that Sam Beukema was fouled in the build-up. "I have no complaints about my team. They played a great match, defensively too, against a very strong Roma side," said Napoli boss Allegri.  

- Lazio climb above Inter -

  Lazio continued their dream start to the season under former Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso, beating Parma 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico. The capital club have only dropped two points from their opening eight matches, in a 2-2 draw with AC Milan last month. Dutch midfielder Kenneth Taylor put the home team ahead in the 51st minute, latching onto a loose ball and calmly slotting in a low shot. Parma defender Diego Carlos put through his own net seven minutes later and, although teenager Simone Lontani pulled one back for the visitors in added time, Lazio closed out victory. Lazio fans will be hoping for a surprise title challenge, after their team failed to even post a top-six finish in any of the last three seasons. Earlier, Como backed up their brilliant Champions League victory over Manchester United as Anastasios Douvikas scored twice in a 2-0 win against Sassuolo. Cesc Fabregas's side climbed to fourth in the table, remaining five points adrift of Lazio. Como were frustrated for long periods by a stubborn Sassuolo team, but clinched an ultimately comfortable win courtesy of Douvikas's two goals in the space of 11 second-half minutes. The Greece striker has now scored five goals in his last four games, and eight in all competitions in total this season. Como, who qualified for Europe for the first time in their history last term, thrashed Man United 4-1 in the Champions League in midweek.