Napoli Frustrated By Parma In Goalless Serie A Stalemate

Napoli’s title ambitions took another hit on January 14, 2026, as they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Parma at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The reigning Serie A champions dominated possession and carved out several opportunities, but a combination of bad luck, fatigue, and a heroic debut from Parma’s goalkeeper Filippo Rinaldi saw them drop more points in their ongoing title defense.

Coming into the match, Napoli had drawn their previous two fixtures 2-2, including a dramatic contest against Inter Milan just days before. The weight of those exertions seemed to linger, with assistant coach Cristian Stellini—standing in for the suspended Antonio Conte—pointing to both physical and mental fatigue as decisive factors. "We’ve been playing for a long time with the same players and, every two or three days, sometimes you lack the sharpness that comes from recovering physical and mental energy," Stellini told DAZN after the match. He added, "We were missing a bit of luck because there were so many situations in the box, but in none of them did we get the right bounce or the right moment."

Napoli started the brighter of the two sides, with Scott McTominay—fresh off a brace against Inter—almost making an early breakthrough. His half-volley from a Giovanni Di Lorenzo through ball was deflected into the side netting, setting the tone for what would be a night of near-misses. Minutes later, McTominay did find the net, but the celebrations were cut short after a VAR review found teammate Pasquale Mazzocchi marginally offside in the buildup, and the goal was chalked off. It was a sign of things to come for the home crowd, who watched their side probe and press but fail to convert.

Parma, sitting 14th in the table and eight points above the relegation zone, arrived in Naples with a clear game plan: defend deep, frustrate the champions, and strike on the counter. Their defensive discipline was complemented by the outstanding debut performance of Filippo Rinaldi. The 23-year-old keeper was thrust into the spotlight and delivered, pulling off a sensational point-blank save from Alessandro Buongiorno’s header in the 27th minute and denying Rasmus Hojlund with a sharp stop on the turn. Rinaldi’s composure under pressure earned him the player of the match accolade and the praise of Parma manager Carlos Cuesta. "We thought Filippo was ready for a great performance, so it proved," Cuesta told DAZN, brushing off suggestions that he owed his goalkeeper any special thanks.

The first half saw Napoli control the tempo but struggle to break down Parma’s well-organized backline. Stellini later admitted, "We were too slow and imprecise in possession in the first half against a well-organised Parma defence." The lack of incision in the final third allowed Parma to grow in confidence, and by halftime, the scoreline remained goalless despite Napoli’s dominance in territory and possession.

Things didn’t get much easier for Napoli after the break. Early in the second half, Hojlund nearly capitalized on a rare Rinaldi error, but the Parma defense scrambled to clear before he could pull the trigger. Stellini responded by making a triple substitution before the hour mark, introducing Leonardo Spinazzola, Eljif Elmas, and David Neres in an attempt to inject fresh energy and creativity. However, the changes did little to alter the pattern of the match. Napoli’s attacks were reduced to half-chances, with shots from McTominay and Stanislav Lobotka failing to trouble Rinaldi. As the clock ticked down, Parma became increasingly content to absorb pressure, with Rinaldi even picking up a late booking for time-wasting as his side clung to their hard-earned point.

Napoli’s frustrations were compounded by more injury concerns. David Neres, making his return from an ankle sprain, was forced off late after feeling pain again, and there remains no clear timetable for the return of André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, who suffered a setback in his recovery. Stellini acknowledged the ongoing challenge of managing a depleted squad, noting, "Some of our players have been out for a long time and we don’t know when they’ll be back." He emphasized the need for unity and mental fortitude, especially with Inter’s result elsewhere putting additional pressure on the squad: "We have to remain clear-headed and work on the mentality of the players and the whole team."

The draw, Napoli’s third in succession, leaves them third in the Serie A standings, level on 40 points with AC Milan but now six points adrift of leaders Inter Milan, who ground out a narrow 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Lecce on the same night. Inter’s victory meant that even a win in Milan’s upcoming match at Como would only reduce Inter’s lead to three points, underscoring the significance of Napoli’s dropped points at home. The defending champions are now at risk of being caught by Roma and Juventus, both of whom are level on points in the race for Champions League qualification.

For Parma, the result marks another positive step in their recent resurgence. Having lost only one of their last five matches, they now sit comfortably above the relegation zone and can take pride in the resilience shown against the champions. Rinaldi’s emergence as a reliable presence between the posts could prove crucial as the season progresses.

Looking ahead, Napoli’s schedule offers little respite. They are set to host Sassuolo on Saturday before traveling to FC Copenhagen for a crucial Champions League play-off encounter—a match that could define their European ambitions this season. With injuries mounting and pressure intensifying, Stellini and his players face a stern test of character and depth in the coming weeks. Defender Amir Rrahmani summed up the mood in the camp: "We definitely need to be quicker, more decisive, bring more quality to our play going forward, not always two touches, sometimes just one."

As the Serie A title race heats up, Napoli will need to rediscover their cutting edge and rally together if they are to keep pace with Inter and Milan. For now, the story remains one of missed chances, mounting fatigue, and the hope that fortune will soon turn their way.