Lukaku puts Naples back in the lead, AS Rome digs deeper

Naples took back control of the Italian Championship after its narrow home victory against AS Roma (1-0), Sunday during the 13th day.

Napoli won with a goal from Romelu Lukaku, who played last season in the Roma jersey and who beat former German international Mats Hummels to deceive Mile Svilar (54th) at close range.

Thanks to this ninth success this season, Naples has regained its place with its 29 points in the leader's chair which it has occupied since the 6th day. But the 2023 Italian champions have three teams in great form on their heels, Atalanta Bergamo, Inter Milan and Fiorentina who all won on the road this weekend and total 28 points.

Failed return for Ranieri on the Roman bench

This chasing trio could become a quartet again if Lazio (5th, 25 pts) wins against Bologna at the start of the evening. Juventus, 6th after its draw at San Siro against AC Milan (1-1), is four points behind the leader. Milan, the big loser this weekend, is already relegated ten points behind Napoli, although with one game in hand (7th, 19 pts).

For his return to the Roma bench, Claudio Ranieri, who came out of retirement at 73 to relaunch a club he had already coached twice, saw a team solid in defense, but singularly lacking in inspiration.

After this third consecutive defeat, Roma remains 12th and is 16 points behind Naples and twelve in 5th place, qualifying for the next Champions League, the minimum objective at the start of the season for the Roman leaders who have already fired two coaches since August, Daniele De Rossi and Ivan Juric.