Romelu Lukaku scored a crucial goal for Serie A leaders Napoli to secure a 1-0 win, handing Claudio Ranieri a defeat on his return as Roma manager.

The Belgian goal was decisive against his old club to ensure the leaders retained the Serie A leadership.

Ranieri is the 4th manager for the Giallorossi in the 2024 season in his third stint in charge of his beloved club.

Napoli had the chance to open the goal chart 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 his effort from  Romelu Lukaku’s back-heel flick, and Matteo Politano’s curler skimmed the crossbar.

After Nicolò Pisilli tested Alex Meret from distance, Mile Svilar made a double save from McTominay’s angled drive at the near post, and Lukaku slid in to meet the Di Lorenzo assist.

After a goalless first half, Ranieri introduced Mats Hummels and Tommaso Baldanzi, switching to a 3-5-2 formation, but Napoli continued to dominate possession.

After Lukaku’s header went wide from a corner kick routine, the hosts eventually had a breakthrough.   Di Lorenzo chested down a cross-field pass and pulled back low from the right for Lukaku, who slid in and got there before Svilar and Hummel from six yards to score against his old club.

Baldanzi failed to convert his chance as he ballooned over first from 14 yards on the Angelino pull-back. Roma again threatened on 66 minutes when Artem Dovbyk’s header thumped the crossbar from close range on a free kick.

Napoli had a chance to make it two, but substitute Michael Folorunsho’s head went wide, and David Neres’s ferocious left-foot shootout went inches past the post from the edge of the area.

Napoli remain on top of the log with 29 points from 13 games, leading defending champions Inter Milan and Atalanta by a point.