ROME, Oct 9: Romelu Lukaku is making an immediate impact at Roma. Paulo Dybala, meanwhile, remains injury prone.
Lukaku scored twice in Roma’s 4-1 win at last-place Cagliari in Serie A on Sunday to raise his tally to seven goals in eight matches across all competitions with the Giallorossi. Dybala exited the match in the first half with a left knee issue having missed long stretches of last season due to injuries. Lukaku used his chest to redirect in a cross from Rick Karsdorp following a set up from Leonardo Spinazzola early on. Then he took a pass from Leandro Paredes to score again with a precise shot from inside the area in the 87th.
Houssem Aouar had put Roma ahead a minute before Lukaku’s first goal and Andrea Belotti also scored for the Giallorossi after replacing Dybala.Nahitan Nandez converted a late penalty for Cagliari.
Napoli beaten
Defending champion Napoli was beaten at home for the second time in the league this season, falling 3-1 to Fiorentina last season’s Europa Conference League finalist. Giacomo Bonaventura scored the second goal for the Viola midway through the second half, shooting in from 12 yards after an accidental assist from Alfred Duncan.
Josip Brekalo had put Fiorentina ahead early on by shooting through the legs of Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret from a tight angle. Then Victor Osimhen equalized with a penalty in first-half stoppage time.
Substitute Nico Gonzalez sealed it for Fiorentina by finishing off a counterattack in second-half stoppage time. (AP)
