Serie A: Lukaku’s Goal Keeps Napoli at the Top
Napoli Maintain Lead with Win over Roma
Romelu Lukaku ensured Napoli maintained their one-point lead at the top of Serie A with the only goal in Sunday’s 1-0 win over his old club Roma. Belgium striker Lukaku poked home his fifth Napoli goal from Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s low cross seven minutes after half-time in Naples, handing veteran Claudio Ranieri a defeat on his return to management with his boyhood club Roma.
Napoli’s Dominance
Napoli were the better team at the Stadio Maradona, and should have been ahead as early as the second minute when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia somehow sent a free header wide from less than six yards out. Kvaratskhelia was also involved four minutes after half-time with a pinpoint cross from which Lukaku glanced just wide.
Roma’s Struggles
Ranieri has a job on his hands at Roma, who are four points above the relegation zone in 12th, but his team were unlucky not to level in the 66th minute when Artem Dovbyk thwacked a header off the bar. "We have problems, that’s why they called me, and we played against a team fighting to win the title," said Ranieri. "Given all that, I’m happy with the performance. We made mistakes but the desire to get the season on the right track is there."
Lazio’s Hot Form
Roma’s struggles will hurt fans all the more given the hot form of their local rivals Lazio, who beat 10-man Bologna 3-0 to claim their seventh straight win in all competitions. Samuel Gigot nodded home his first Lazio goal 67 minutes into his full Serie A debut and four minutes later captain Mattia Zaccagni curled home a fine finish to effectively end the match as a contest. Substitute Fisayo Dele-Bashiru completed the scoring in stoppage time for Lazio, who sit fifth, some 15 points ahead of Roma as Marco Baroni’s side continue to defy expectations.
Fiorentina’s Reborn Kean
Moise Kean continued his revival at Fiorentina by netting in a 2-0 win at Como, which was his team’s seventh in a row in Serie A. The 24-year-old has been reborn in Florence after failing to score a single goal at Juventus last season, and has scored seven times in his last four matches in Italy’s top flight.
Conclusion
Napoli’s 1-0 win over Roma has kept them at the top of the Serie A table, with Atalanta, Inter Milan, Fiorentina, and Lazio all just one point behind. The title race is shaping up to be a closely contested one, with Juventus four points off the pace in sixth.
FAQs
- Who scored the only goal in Napoli’s 1-0 win over Roma?
Romelu Lukaku scored the goal in the 67th minute. - How many points behind Juventus is Napoli?
Four points. - Who is struggling in Serie A?
Roma are four points above the relegation zone in 12th. - Who is in hot form in Serie A?
Lazio have won their seventh straight match in all competitions.