Romelu Lukaku netted against his former club to help Napoli secure a 1-0 win over Roma on Sunday, propelling the Partenopei back to the top of the Serie A table and handing Claudio Ranieri a disappointing start in his return to the Giallorossi.
With this victory, Napoli moved one point clear of Atalanta, Inter Milan, and Fiorentina, who had earlier secured a 2-0 win at Como, marking their seventh consecutive triumph.
Lukaku’s decisive moment came early in the second half at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona when he redirected a cross from Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo into the net, giving the home side the lead.
Roma fought hard to find an equalizer and came agonizingly close when Artem Dovbyk’s header rattled off the crossbar, leaving them with no chance to level the score.
Lukaku, who played for Roma last season, had been one of Napoli’s key transfer targets following the appointment of Antonio Conte as Napoli’s coach in the off-season.
Ranieri, who took over just 10 days ago as Roma’s third coach of the season, replaced Ivan Juric after the latter was dismissed, with Juric himself having succeeded Daniele De Rossi earlier in the year. Despite the new managerial change, Roma remain in 12th place, still just four points above the relegation zone.
