Napoli preserved a long unbeaten home record but missed the chance to go top of Serie A, drawing 2-2 with Verona after trailing by two goals. Scott McTominay and Giovanni Di Lorenzo scored in the second
half, rescuing a point that moved Antonio Conte's side within one point of leaders Inter before Inter's match against Parma on Wednesday.
The champions dominated possession early yet found themselves in serious trouble by the 27th minute. Verona struck first through Martin Frese, then extended the lead with a Gift Orban penalty after a handball by Alessandro Buongiorno. Napoli then faced the prospect of losing for the first time at home in 2025 across all competitions.
McTominay sparked the revival nine minutes after half-time. Noa Lang swung in a corner from the right and McTominay met it with a firm header. Goalkeeper Nicolas Valentini got something on the effort but failed to keep it out, as the ball squirmed over the line and brought Napoli back into the contest.
The equaliser eventually came in the 82nd minute and involved another decisive contribution from the flanks. Substitute Luca Marianucci delivered a low cross from the left side of the area. Di Lorenzo arrived unmarked and swept a first-time finish inside the near post, leaving Lorenzo Montipo with no chance and confirming Napoli's recovery.
Verona's bright start shocked the home crowd after Napoli had controlled the early stages. In the 16th minute, Cheikh Niasse broke free on the right and whipped in a low centre. Frese met it with an inventive backheel finish that wrong-footed the defence and gave Verona a 1-0 advantage at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Verona doubled their lead from the penalty spot before the half-hour mark. Orban, who had been heavily involved in the opening goal, saw a cross blocked by Buongiorno's arm inside the box. The referee pointed to the spot and Orban calmly stroked the penalty into the net, leaving Napoli facing a 2-0 deficit.
Napoli created pressure around the Verona area before the interval but could not find a way through. Eljif Elmas forced a key save when the score was still 0-0, driving a shot towards the near post. Visiting captain Montipo stayed strong, smothering the attempt and laying the platform for Verona's ruthless response at the other end.
Napoli vs Verona Serie A disallowed goals and missed late chances
Rasmus Hojlund endured a frustrating night despite getting into promising positions. The forward first sent a free header wide of the target shortly after McTominay's goal. Later, in the 72nd minute, Hojlund volleyed in athletically on the stretch and thought the equaliser had arrived, only for the effort to be ruled out for handball against the Manchester United loanee.
Napoli saw another potential leveller removed by a tight offside decision. From a high ball into the box, McTominay nodded down for Amir Rrahmani, who finished from close range. Celebrations were brief, though, as the assistant's flag was raised and replays confirmed Rrahmani had strayed beyond the last defender before the knock-down.
Conte's team pushed hard for a winning goal after Di Lorenzo's strike, driving Verona back in the closing minutes. However, the visitors almost stole all three points in added time. Giovane spotted goalkeeper Alex Meret off the line and attempted an audacious long-range lob, which dropped onto the side netting and left Napoli grateful to escape with a draw.
20 & 30 - Since his #SerieA debut (2018/19), Giovanni Di Lorenzo is one of only three defenders to have scored 20+ goals and provided 30+ assists (20G+30A for him) in the Big-5 European leagues, along with Raphal Guerreiro and Achraf Hakimi. Engine.#NapoliHellasVeronaOptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) January 7, 2026
Napoli vs Verona Serie A data debrief and home record
Statistically, Verona carried more threat before half-time. Napoli's unbeaten run at home appeared in real danger after a clinical visiting display. By the break, Verona had generated 1.69 expected goals compared to Napoli's 0.56, underlining how effectively Verona punished their best openings during the first 45 minutes.
After the restart, the pattern changed as Napoli increased the tempo and created regular danger. Conte's side attempted 11 shots in the second half, while Verona managed seven. The quality of Napoli's opportunities also improved, measured at 0.53 expected goals against Verona's 0.21, reflecting the home side's territorial and attacking control after the interval.
Across all competitions in 2025, Napoli were the only club among Europe's top-five leagues to avoid a home defeat, playing 21 matches with 15 wins and six draws. The comeback against Verona extended that sequence to 23 unbeaten home games overall. The result maintained momentum, but also highlighted how narrow the margins remain in the Serie A title race.
