Romelu Lukaku was decisive against his old club to ensure Napoli retain the Serie A leadership and give Claudio Ranieri a negative start to this latest chapter in his Roma career.
The Giallorossi made their debut under the fourth different coach of 2024, though it was Ranieri’s third stint in charge of his beloved club. Paulo Dybala and Mats Hummels were only fit for the bench, with Mario Hermoso, Eldor Shomurodov and Alexis Saelemaekers out, but he changed to a four-man defence. The Partenopei had Stanislav Lobotka in the starting XI after 51 days out and needed a victory to maintain top spot.
See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.
Napoli should’ve scored in the opening 80 seconds, but Kvicha Kvaratskhelia steered a free header wide when left unmarked at the back post on Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s cross.
Scott McTominay also turned wide on the Romelu Lukaku back-heel flick and Matteo Politano’s curler skimmed the crossbar, while Nicolò Pisilli tested Alex Meret from distance.
Mile Svilar made a double save in one move, first on McTominay’s angled drive at the near post, then as Lukaku came sliding in to meet the Di Lorenzo assist.
Ranieri introduced Mats Hummels and Tommaso Baldanzi after the restart for a 3-5-2 formation, but Napoli continued to dominate possession and Lukaku’s header whistled wide from a corner kick routine.
The breakthrough finally came when Di Lorenzo chested down a cross-field pass and pulled back low from the right for Lukaku to come sliding in, getting there before Svilar and Hummels from six yards to score against his old club.
Baldanzi had the opportunity to equalise when ballooning over first-time from 14 yards on the Angelino pull-back, but even more so on 66 minutes when Artem Dovbyk’s header thumped the crossbar from close range on a free kick.
Napoli’s substitutes threatened to add a second, Michael Folorunsho’s header wide and David Neres bending a ferocious left-foot finish inches past the post from the edge of the area.
Naples 1-0 Rome
Lukaku 53 (N)
