Serie A: Lorenzo Pellegrini and Romelu Lukaku Fire Roma to 2-0 Win Over Nine-Man Napoli

Lorenzo Pellegrini and Romelu Lukaku scored to give AS Roma a 2-0 home win over Napoli in Serie A on Saturday as Matteo Politano and Victor Osimhen were sent off for the visitors.

Romelu Lukaku and Nicola Zalewski returned from suspension, but Paulo Dybala, Houssem Aouar, Chris Smalling, Marash Kumbulla and Tammy Abraham were still injured after one point from two games saw them slide out of the top spots. Renato Sanches wasn’t even on the bench with flu symptoms.

Roma were unlucky not to take the lead after 18 minutes when Edoardo Bove started the move from midfield and almost finished it, his curler from the edge of the area clipping the top of the crossbar.

It was an incredibly niggly game with endless fouls and protests, so it was perhaps no surprise a red card was flashed after 66 minutes. Politano was dragged back by the jersey by Zalewski, who was booked, but then had a little kick out at the Roma man on his way down and received a straight red card.

Lukaku hit a half-volley over the bar from a tricky angle, but Roma got their breakthrough in chaotic fashion.

Sardar Azmoun and Stephan El Shaarawy attempts were charged down until Lorenzo Pellegrini let it bounce and scored with a half-volley on the turn from 12 yards.

It got even worse for Napoli, as Osimhen was sent off for a second bookable offence, both of them his over-eager attempts to chase down opponents and win back the ball.

Napoli effectively were down to eight in stoppages when Natan hurt his shoulder. With that situation and the visitors pouring forward, Roma added a second on the counter-attack when Lukaku combined with Evan Ndicka to beat Meret.

Roma moved up to sixth place on 28 points, one ahead of Napoli who dropped to seventh.