Napoli staged a spirited comeback from two goals down to avoid a major Serie A upset, drawing 2-2 with relegation-threatened Hellas Verona and extending their unbeaten run to five matches in all competitions.

Unbeaten at home in the league throughout 2025, Napoli began assertively as they looked to carry that dominance into the new year. Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s inventive early pass released Eljif Elmas in behind the defence, but the midfielder’s first-time effort was well saved at the near post by Lorenzo Montipò.

Despite Napoli’s bright start, Verona stunned the hosts 16 minutes in with their first meaningful attack. Cheikh Niasse raced to the byline on the right and cut the ball back for Martin Frese, whose deft flicked finish left Vanja Milinković-Savić helpless.

Matters worsened for Antonio Conte’s side midway through the first half when VAR intervened to review a possible handball by Alessandro Buongiorno inside the area. Referee Matteo Marchetti awarded a penalty after consulting the monitor, and Gift Orban calmly sent Milinković-Savić the wrong way to double Verona’s lead.

Napoli pushed to respond before the break, with Di Lorenzo continuing to deliver dangerous balls into the box. Rasmus Højlund headed over from one such cross, while Scott McTominay was denied by a crucial Unai Núñez block after being teed up by the Danish striker.

With nine of their previous 10 league goals having come in the first half, Napoli needed a shift in momentum after the interval. That arrived eight minutes into the second half when Montipò misjudged a corner, allowing McTominay to head in and pull a goal back.

The equaliser seemed imminent as Napoli poured forward, but clear chances proved elusive. Højlund thought he had levelled when he turned in Matteo Politano’s delivery, only for VAR to rule it out for handball. Moments later, McTominay again found the net, but the flag was raised for offside.

Napoli’s persistence finally paid off eight minutes from time. Luca Marianucci’s ball into the near post was met by Di Lorenzo, who swept home to complete the comeback.

The result ensured Napoli remained unbeaten at home since December 2024, though they missed the opportunity to move top of the table. Verona nearly snatched a dramatic winner in stoppage time when Giovane chipped over Milinković-Savić, but his effort drifted narrowly wide.

While Napoli will rue the dropped points, Verona can take encouragement from a hard-earned draw that ends a run of two consecutive 3-0 defeats and moves them within two points of safety.