Romelu Lukaku ensured Napoli retained their one-point lead at the top of Serie A by scoring the decisive goal in Sunday’s 1-0 victory over his former club, Roma.
The Belgian striker netted his fifth goal for Napoli seven minutes into the second half at the Stadio Maradona, spoiling veteran Claudio Ranieri’s return to management with his boyhood club.
Napoli sit one point ahead of Atalanta, Inter Milan, and Fiorentina in a tightly contested title race with no clear favourite for the Scudetto. Lazio have the opportunity to join the chasing pack on 28 points with a home win over Bologna in Sunday’s late fixture, while Juventus are four points adrift in sixth place.
Napoli were dominant throughout the match and could have taken the lead in the second minute when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia inexplicably missed a free header from close range.
Kvaratskhelia was instrumental again early in the second half, delivering a precise cross that Lukaku glanced just wide before eventually breaking the deadlock.
Ranieri faces a challenging task at Roma, who sit 12th, just four points above the relegation zone. His side came close to an equaliser in the 66th minute when Artem Dovbyk rattled the crossbar with a powerful header.
Reborn Kean
Moise Kean continued his resurgence at Fiorentina, scoring in a 2-0 win over Como that marked Fiorentina’s seventh consecutive Serie A victory.
The 24-year-old, rejuvenated in Florence after failing to score last season at Juventus, has now netted seven goals in his last four league matches.
“People focus on the goals, but the entire team has been working hard with him… he’s developing and now reaping the benefits,” said Fiorentina coach Raffaele Palladino.
Kean’s 68th-minute goal was his ninth in 12 league games under Palladino. Fiorentina will face champions Inter Milan next weekend in what promises to be a crucial clash.
Fiorentina’s victory was also secured by Yacine Adli’s 20th-minute opener, with David de Gea producing a stunning triple save on the hour mark to maintain their lead. Como remain just one point above the relegation zone after a fifth defeat in their last seven matches.
Vieira Denied
Patrick Vieira’s debut as Genoa manager ended in frustration as a late penalty earned Cagliari a 2-2 draw at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
Roberto Piccoli converted from the spot two minutes from time after being fouled by Aaron Martin, securing a point for Cagliari with their second penalty of the game.
“My players delivered a good performance and executed what we worked on in training,” said Vieira. “I’m disappointed for them because I think they deserved to win.”
Vieira, who replaced the sacked Alberto Gilardino earlier in the week, looked set for a victorious start following goals from Morten Frendrup and Fabio Miretti, which gave Genoa the lead in the 59th minute after Razvan Marin’s early penalty for the visitors.
The draw leaves Genoa in 16th, level on points with Cagliari, and two points clear of Lecce in the relegation zone.