Napoli are already 11 points away from the top after matchday eight of Serie A, with Roma and Inter leading on 22 points each. The match against Roma, which ended 3-3, highlighted the team's most acute problem: the difficulty in maintaining advantages. Despite the ability to build and score, the Azzurri lost control of the match in the second half, ceding most of the possession to Roma and allowing two comebacks.
In the first half Napoli had 52.58% possession, but the percentage plummeted to 45.12% between the 16th and 30th minutes and to 32.35% at the first interval. In the second half the situation worsened: between the 46th and 60th minutes Roma dictated 62.58% of the ball, and above all between the 61st and 75th minutes they reached an impressive 80.69% of possession, leaving Napoli with only 19.31%. It was in this phase that Soulé equalized 2‑1 and Roma then completed the comeback with a goal from Balerdi in the 83rd minute, making the score 3‑3 in the 90th minute.
The result was accompanied by an analysis of possession statistics which shows how Napoli progressively relinquished control of the match. From the 61st to the 75th minute the difference in possession was 61.38 points, and from the 76th to the 97th Roma maintained 58.94% against 41.06% for Napoli. The analysis highlights that, once in the lead, the team tends to reduce its center of gravity and rely more on defense than possession, a strategy that cost two comebacks in this match.
The problem of controlling advantages fits into a broader context: Napoli have conceded six goals in two consecutive matches, with three against Bodø/Glimt and three against Roma. Despite the growth in offensive performance and some moments of higher quality, the standings are narrowing the margins. After eight matchdays, 11 points away from the top is a gap not seen in Serie A since 2000/01, when the team was relegated by 18 points.
To recover the position in the table, Massimiliano Allegri will have to focus not only on improving the quality of the game, but above all on maintaining possession and controlling the matches when they find themselves in the lead. Ball management and the ability to close the score will be fundamental to reverse the situation and get closer to the top, which is currently already -11 points behind Napoli.