ROME, Italy – AS Roma emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over Napoli in a Serie A encounter on Saturday, marked by goals from Lorenzo Pellegrini and Romelu Lukaku.
The match witnessed the sent off of two Napoli players, Matteo Politano and Victor Osimhen.
Roma’s win propelled them to sixth place in the Serie A standings with 28 points, surpassing Napoli, who now occupy seventh place.
The tense game saw Pellegrini’s decisive goal in the 76th minute, just moments after entering the pitch.
His half-volley found the top corner following a miss-hit shot from Stephan El Shaarawy.
Napoli faced a setback when Politano received a red card in the 66th minute for kicking out at Nicola Zalewski.
Down to 10 men, Napoli‘s challenge intensified, and their troubles deepened when Osimhen received a second yellow card in the 86th minute.
Roma manager Jose Mourinho expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, especially after Politano’s dismissal, stating, “With 10 men, we had an advantage, and we took advantage of it well with the changes and with our interpretation. I think it’s a well-deserved victory.”
Napoli, the defending champions, struggled to create significant scoring opportunities, and Roma goalkeeper Alex Meret played a crucial role in denying their attempts.
Romelu Lukaku sealed Roma’s triumph in the 96th minute, capitalizing on a counter-attack and firing his shot into the net.
Mourinho reflected on the match, saying, “Roma came in very, very well, we were always in control against a much stronger team from a technical point of view.”
The first half of the game witnessed six yellow cards, including bookings for both managers, reflecting the intense nature of the contest.
Despite Napoli dominating possession, it was Roma that appeared more threatening.
With this victory, Roma aims to build momentum in Serie A, while Napoli faces the challenge of bouncing back from the defeat.
The Serie A season continues to provide captivating moments, and the battle for supremacy remains fiercely contested.
