Lazio's Matias Vecino scores his side's third and winning goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Atalanta at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)
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.
“A lot of things were said about me but I worked hard over the summer,” Lukaku said. “I’m a professional.”
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.
Nahitan Nandez converted a late penalty for Cagliari.
Lukaku, who joined Roma on loan in August, has also been key in the Europa League. He scored the winner in Roma’s opening 2-1 victory over Sheriff and had the first goal in a 4-0 win over Servette on Thursday.
Lukaku said Roma coach Jose Mourinho was fundamental in his decision to move to the capital.
“I have a special relationship with (Mourinho). He knows my family. He knows my kids,” Lukaku said. “I really have confidence in him and he really has confidence in me.”
Roma moved up to 10th while Cagliari remained winless — leaving coach Claudio Ranieri at risk.
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.
The 34-year-old Bonaventura has been involved in the most goals among Serie A midfielders this season with four scores and two assists and on Friday was named to Italy’s squad for the first time in three years.
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.
Napoli was also beaten by Lazio at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in early September.
Fiorentina moved up to fourth, three points ahead of fifth-place Napoli.
It was the second home loss in six days for Napoli after also getting beaten by Real Madrid, 3-2, in the Champions League on Tuesday.
LAZIO LEAVES IT LATE
Lazio gave up a two-goal advantage but still managed to beat visiting Atalanta 3-2 at the Stadio Olimpico.
An own-goal from Charles De Ketelaere and a strike from Valentin Castellanos, who started at center forward in place of the injured Ciro Immobile, put Lazio up 2-0 after 11 minutes.
