Napoli's defensive fragility is threatening to define their season. The 3-3 draw with Roma at the Maradona on Saturday was a damaging result dressed up as entertainment. Allegri's side led twice, including a 3-2 advantage with seven minutes remaining, only to concede a late Balerdi header that salvaged an undeserved point for Gasperini's side. It was the kind of collapse that has become a pattern, and it leaves Napoli ninth in Serie A with 11 points from eight games.

Scott McTominay scored twice again, continuing the form he showed in the Champions League win over Bodø/Glimt days earlier, and Anguissa produced a stunning overhead kick for the opener. But individual brilliance cannot paper over structural problems at the back, and three goals conceded in 20 second-half minutes told the real story. Allegri was sent off for protesting after Roma's equaliser, then directed pointed remarks at the officials in his post-match comments, adding a layer of instability to an already tense atmosphere around the club.

The injury list is growing too. Badiashile was forced off during the Roma match, adding to an already stretched defensive unit that had already lost Rrahmani to illness for the same game. Buongiorno and Neres remain sidelined. Napoli travel to Monza on Wednesday needing a response, but until the defensive problems are addressed, results will remain unpredictable.