Scott McTominay demonstrated remarkable resilience on Sunday, transforming from villain to hero to earn Napoli a crucial point in a dramatic 2-2 draw away to Serie A title rivals Inter Milan.
Costly Error and Immediate Response
The Scotland international's night at the iconic San Siro stadium began in the worst possible fashion. In the ninth minute, McTominay was dispossessed in his own half by Piotr Zielinski while receiving the ball with his back to goal. Inter ruthlessly capitalised on the turnover, with Federico Dimarco finishing off a swift counter-attack to put the hosts ahead.
However, the former Manchester United man, who left Old Trafford in the summer of 2024, refused to let the mistake define his performance. Showing the character that has defined his stellar second season in Italy, he drew Napoli level in the 26th minute. McTominay made a powerful, lung-busting run into the area and applied a precise first-time finish at the near post.
Ruthless Equaliser Seals Vital Point
After Inter restored their lead via a contentious second-half penalty—a decision that saw Napoli manager Antonio Conte shown a red card for dissent—McTominay once again came to the rescue. With nine minutes of normal time remaining, the 29-year-old showcased his exceptional poacher's instinct, volleying home from close range to make it 2-2 and secure a massive result for his side.
His brace took his personal tally for the season to eight goals and ensured Napoli remained within four points of the league leaders. The performance cemented his status as a key figure for Conte's team following his Serie A MVP award for the 2024/2025 campaign.
Italian Media Hails 'Priceless' Mentality
The Italian sports press was united in its praise for McTominay's ability to seize control of the game after his early setback. The overarching theme was one of admiration for his mental fortitude.
Eurosport Italy led its coverage with the headline "McTominay with guts," noting that such a costly error "would have flattened anyone… but not him." They awarded him an 8/10 match rating, praising his "big attributes in midfield."
Corriere della Sera also gave an 8/10, emphasising his robotic focus: "Like a robot he programmes himself and becomes the protagonist with technique and cold-bloodedness."
Football Italia named him their man of the match, branding him "Priceless McTominay" in their headline and handing out a high rating of 8.5/10. Corriere dello Sport stated he "bossed it" at the San Siro, describing him as Napoli's leader who performed with "great substance."
Further acclaim came from La Repubblica, which also labelled him a "leader," and Sky Sport Italy, which matched the 8/10 rating. Il Giornale summed up his clinical finishing by describing his performance as "ruthless," forgiving his early mistake for two decisive "poacher’s goals" worth a massive point in the title race.
