Roma Player Ratings vs Napoli: Giallorossi Struggle Once More

In a fiercely contested 161st Derby del Sole, Roma succumbed to a disappointing 1-0 defeat against their arch-nemeses Napoli at the Stadio Olimpico. The decisive blow was delivered by the in-form winger David Neres, sealing the match in a game that failed to ignite the passion of the home fans.

Despite kicking off with an impressive performance record—their best 12-game Serie A start since the 2017/18 season—Roma appeared to lack urgency and cohesion, grappling with the absence of Artem Dovbyk due to injury and Paulo Dybala relegated to the bench. Under the watchful eye of Gian Piero Gasperini, this was an evening to forget.

Indeed, the first half was arguably the poorest display under Gasperini’s stewardship. Napoli commanded the game, leaving Roma on the back foot for most of the opening period. Goalkeeper Mile Svilar emerged as the team’s lone beacon, making several critical interventions in the early exchanges; however, his heroics could not prevent the inevitable.

In the 36th minute, Neres broke free on a swift counter-attack, displaying dazzling pace and finishing with precision. That moment would ultimately decide the match, as Roma failed to mount a significant challenge for the remainder of the game in this storied rivalry.

The frustration for Roma’s supporters peaked in the 90th minute, as they awaited a breakthrough that never came. Only then did they witness their first clear-cut opportunity, but Vanja Milinkovic-Savic thwarted Tommaso Baldanzi with a spectacular save from the edge of the box. Let’s delve into the player ratings to gauge the individual performances.

Roma (3-4-2-1)

Mile Svilar – 7/10

A standout performer, Svilar kept Roma in contention until the bitter end with a series of critical saves. Yet, he was ultimately let down by his teammates on that pivotal Napoli goal.

Gianluca Mancini – 6/10

Surprisingly, Mancini finished without a booking despite an array of reckless challenges. His impetuousness in the first half left his defense exposed.

Evan Ndicka – 5/10

Ndicka struggled to contain the attacking threats, losing track of Neres at a critical moment while being unable to impose himself on Rasmus Hojlund.

Mario Hermoso – 7/10

The former Atlético Madrid stalwart stood out defensively, effectively closing off spaces and providing much-needed stability to the backline.

Wesley – 5/10

Forced onto the left side due to Angelino’s absence, Wesley struggled to adapt and failed to make any meaningful contributions offensively.

Bryan Cristante – 5/10

While Cristante embodies energy and tenacity, his inability to create chances when Roma needed it most was glaring.

Manu Kone – 4/10

Kone’s tame contribution in possession culminated in a critical blunder leading to Napoli’s goal—an uncharacteristic misstep in an otherwise calm performance.

Zeki Celik – 6/10

Celik was solid defensively, nullifying the threat from Noa Lang effectively. However, his lack of involvement in attack was unhelpful.

Matias Soule – 3/10

Expectations were high for the young Argentine, but he delivered a dismal performance, undoubtedly his most disappointing outing of the season.

Lorenzo Pellegrini – 5/10

Stripped of the captaincy by Gasperini, Pellegrini fought hard to assert himself, but ultimately failed to influence the match positively.

Evan Ferguson – 2/10

The Brighton loanee was isolated and out of sync with his teammates in the first half and was rightly substituted at the break.

Substitutions

Tommaso Baldanzi – 6/10

Paulo Dybala – 4/10

Neil El Aynaoui – 4/10

Leon Bailey – N/A

Stephan El Shaarawy – N/A