NAPLES, Italy: Napoli edged out AS Roma 1-0 at home on Sunday, with Romelu Lukaku's second-half goal securing all three points and top spot in Serie A.
It took 54 minutes for Napoli to break the deadlock, with Lukaku sliding in to meet Giovanni Di Lorenzo's low cross from close range and score against the team he played for last season.
Napoli have 29 points after 13 matches, one point ahead of Atalanta, Inter Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio who occupy second to fifth respectively.
It was a disappointing day for Roma manager Claudio Ranieri, who began his third stint in charge at the club, with his side 12th in the table with 13 points.
"When we arrive at the stadium, we can feel the way the fans push us on. We won today and we are happy," Lukaku told Sky Sport Italia.
"I just want to do well for the team. We have a process that we need to go through, we knew it would be tough because the other sides won, but we got the result we wanted."
Napoli had an early chance to take the lead, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia failed to convert, sending a free header wide after being left unmarked at the back post.
Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar was kept busy, making several crucial saves, including a strong stop from Scott McTominay's angled attempt.
DOVBYK HEADER
Roma woke up after Lukaku's goal in the second half, with Artem Dovbyk powering a header off the woodwork from a free kick minutes later, but they couldn't find an equaliser.
Napoli could have added another goal in the final seconds of the match when David Neres sent a curling shot from the edge of the box just wide.
"We just have to keep the growth process going, we know it will be a long season, we are happy with the performance and the way the fans cheered us on," Di Lorenzo said.
"It’s a process, we know there will be setbacks along the way, some of them painful, but we’re on the right track."
Fiorentina extended their winning streak to seven Serie A matches earlier on Sunday, a feat they hadn't achieved since April 1960, with a 2-0 victory at Como, courtesy of goals from Yacine Adli and Moise Kean.
Keeper David De Gea played a crucial role for Fiorentina, making an incredible triple save to deny the hosts around the hour mark.
Lazio secured a 3-0 home win over 10-man Bologna later on Sunday after the visitors' Tommaso Pobega was sent off just before the break.
Samuel Gigot, Mattia Zaccagni and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru all scored in the second half to secure Lazio their seventh consecutive victory in all competitions. — Reuters
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