Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples witnessed another electrifying chapter of the Derby del Sole as Napoli and Roma battled to a thrilling 2-2 draw in front of a raucous crowd of 52,000 on February 16, 2026. With Champions League aspirations on the line and both squads heavily depleted by injuries and suspensions, the stakes couldn’t have been higher for these Serie A giants.
Heading into the contest, Napoli sat third in the Serie A table, holding a narrow three-point lead over fifth-placed Roma. The Partenopei, managed by Antonio Conte, were eager to solidify their grip on a top-four finish, especially after being knocked out of the Coppa Italia by Como in a heart-wrenching penalty shootout just days earlier. Roma, guided by Gian Piero Gasperini, arrived in Naples buoyed by a 2-0 win over Cagliari and desperate to shake off a poor record against Napoli—just one win in their last 12 encounters.
The injury report read like a who’s who of Serie A stars. Napoli were without midfield linchpin Scott McTominay, who hadn’t recovered from tendon inflammation suffered in the dramatic 3-2 victory over Genoa, as well as Kevin De Bruyne, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Billy Gilmour, captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo, and winger David Neres. Defensive stalwart Juan Jesus was suspended. Yet, there was some good news: Matteo Politano shrugged off a recent knock to start in attack alongside Antonio Vergara and Rasmus Hojlund, while Eljif Elmas dropped into midfield to partner Stanislav Lobotka.
Roma’s absences were just as daunting. Paulo Dybala, Manu Kone, Artem Dovbyk, Evan Ferguson, and Stephan El Shaarawy didn’t make the trip, while Matias Soulé was a doubt with a groin problem. As a result, January signing Bryan Zaragoza was thrust into the starting lineup, joining Lorenzo Pellegrini and the red-hot Donyell Malen—on loan from Aston Villa and already with three goals in four games—in attack. The midfield saw Nicolò Pisilli get the nod, and Mario Hermoso, nursing a hip injury, was only fit enough for the bench.
The official lineups reflected the mounting challenges both coaches faced. For Napoli: Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema, Buongiorno, Rrahmani; Gutierrez, Elmas, Lobotka, Spinazzola; Politano, Vergara; Hojlund. Roma responded with: Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Ghilardi; Celik, Cristante, Pisilli, Wesley; Pellegrini, Zaragoza; Malen.
From the opening whistle, the game crackled with intensity. Roma struck first, with Donyell Malen finishing off a slick move orchestrated by Zaragoza in just the 7th minute, silencing the home crowd and instantly shifting the pressure onto Napoli. But the hosts, boasting the longest unbeaten home streak in Serie A since 1988 and undefeated in their last 22 league matches at the Maradona, refused to wilt. Leonardo Spinazzola, a constant threat down the flank, leveled the score in the 40th minute after a deft assist from Eljif Elmas, sending the Napoli faithful into a frenzy.
The second half saw tempers flare and tackles fly as both sides recognized the magnitude of the moment. Amir Rrahmani picked up a booking in the 68th minute, underscoring the match’s combative nature. Then, in the 71st minute, Malen struck again, restoring Roma’s lead and underlining why he’s quickly become one of Serie A’s most talked-about winter arrivals. Yet, Napoli’s resilience shone through. With the clock ticking down, they pressed forward relentlessly, and their efforts paid off as they found an equalizer to make it 2-2, ensuring the points would be shared in this seesaw battle.
“We knew this would be a tough match given all the absentees, but the team showed great character,” said Napoli boss Antonio Conte post-match, his side having now drawn five league games this season. Gasperini, for his part, praised Malen’s impact and Zaragoza’s seamless integration: “Donyell is proving why we brought him in, and Bryan gave us a real spark in attack.”
The draw leaves the Serie A table finely poised. Inter Milan, after their 3-2 win over Juventus, remain clear at the top with 61 points. Napoli, with 50 points from 25 games, cling to third place, while Roma, now on 47 points, leapfrog Juventus into fourth, intensifying the race for Champions League qualification. Juve, with 46 points, and Atalanta, on 42, are also in hot pursuit, promising a fierce battle down the stretch.
The match statistics reflect just how evenly matched these sides were, despite their depleted ranks. Napoli’s home fortress remains unbreached in Serie A this season, with the Maradona crowd again playing a pivotal role. Roma, meanwhile, will be encouraged by their ability to take points from a top-three rival on the road, a feat that’s eluded them in recent high-stakes fixtures.
For Napoli, the challenge now is to regain momentum after their Coppa Italia disappointment and continue to weather the injury storm. With key players like McTominay and De Bruyne still sidelined, Conte’s tactical flexibility and the depth of his squad will be put to the test. Roma, on the other hand, must build on this result and hope for the return of their injured stars as they seek their first top-four finish since the 2017/18 campaign.
Fans watching around the world—whether tuning in on TNT Sports 1, DAZN, or Paramount+—were treated to a Derby del Sole that lived up to its billing. The 2-2 result, while perhaps not decisive, keeps both Napoli and Roma firmly in the hunt for Champions League football and sets the stage for a dramatic final third of the Serie A season.
As the dust settles on this pulsating draw, one thing is clear: with so much still to play for and both teams refusing to give an inch, the race for Italy’s coveted top four spots is far from over. The Derby del Sole delivered fireworks once again, and the drama in Serie A shows no signs of slowing down.