Roma held out for a 0-0 draw at the Stadio Olimpico, as Napoli see their perfect start ended and are caught at the top by Milan.
It was a tense Derby del Sud, as the Partenopei went in with a 100 per cent Serie A record, missing only Kostas Manolas, Adam Ounas and Kevin Malcuit. Jose Mourinho went on a furious rant after the 6-1 Conference League defeat to Bodo/Glimt, claiming he had ‘only 13 players’ in the squad and blaming the former administration for bad decisions. Leonardo Spinazzola and Chris Smalling were still out, but Nicolò Zaniolo returned from injury. Mou sent Borja Mayoral, Gonzalo Villar, Marash Kumbulla, Amadou Diawara and Bryan Reynolds to the stands.
Zaniolo couldn’t keep a header on target at the back post from a corner, while Victor Osimhen’s shot was charged down after an awkward bounce.
Tammy Abraham was limping, but still managed to out-sprint Amir Rrahmani on the Bryan Cristante through ball to fire wide.
Lorenzo Insigne turned over from the edge of the area, but Osimhen – who was already sent off for a reaction foul against Venezia this season – risked further action when giving a slight kick out at Gianluca Mancini after they clashed.
There was a huge double Napoli chance on the hour mark, as Matteo Politano pulled back from the by-line for Osimhen, who hit the woodwork from point-blank range, then a desperate Rick Karsdorp tackle prevented Mario Rui scoring on the rebound.
On the resulting corner, Osimhen’s looping header bounced off the top of the crossbar.
Roma threatened too, Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s snapshot testing Ospina and Lorenzo Pellegrini almost steering an improbable volley on target.
Gianluca Mancini really should’ve scored with a relatively free header at the back post on a Pellegrini set play, but incredibly put it wide.
Roma ultras hurled insults at their former coach Luciano Spalletti, who responded by waving sarcastically to the crowd. Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho was protesting so hysterically on the touchline that he received two yellow cards and was sent off.
Just have a look at José Mourinho
Three days after a 6-1 defeat to Bodø/Glimt, the AS Roma boss is sent off!
A sarcastic thumbs up to the referee for good measure
Oh, Jose… pic.twitter.com/iI0QPM68oy
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 24, 2021
Osimhen had the ball in the net on 88 minutes with a towering header, but as he had done throughout the game, he had wandered offside. Luciano Spalletti saw red after the final whistle, again for dissent, but the coach insisted his applause towards the referee was genuine rather than sarcastic.
Roma 0-0 Napoli
