Romelu Lukaku propelled Napoli to a crucial 3-2 victory over Atalanta on Saturday, extending their lead at the top of Serie A to six points. The Belgian striker secured the win in the 78th minute, heading in his eighth goal of the season from André-Frank Zambo Anguissa’s pinpoint cross. The triumph in Bergamo solidifies Napoli’s position as a serious title contender under Antonio Conte’s leadership.
Napoli struck early through Matteo Politano, and Scott McTominay added another to cap off a clinical performance in which all three of their shots on target resulted in goals. Lukaku emphasised the significance of the victory, saying, “I can’t say if it’s my most important goal, but the win is crucial. We proved tonight that we are a top team.” Napoli, with 50 points from 21 matches, are aiming for their second Scudetto in three years. However, defending champions Inter Milan, who trail by six points with a game in hand, will look to close the gap when they face Empoli on Sunday.
Atalanta, led by Gian Piero Gasperini, struck first through Serie A’s leading scorer Mateo Retegui in the 16th minute and equalised in the second half through Ademola Lookman. Despite their efforts, Atalanta suffered their first league defeat since September, dropping to third place, seven points behind Napoli. Gasperini praised his team’s performance despite the loss, saying, “We played with great quality against a strong side. This defeat is hard to take, but it will make us stronger.”
The victory sets the stage for Napoli’s upcoming clash against Juventus next week in Naples, a key test for Conte’s squad as they push to maintain their dominance. Lukaku warned against complacency, urging his team to stay focused. “It’s easy to lose focus after a win like this, but we must continue playing at this level,” he said.
In Turin, Juventus defeated AC Milan 2-0 to climb into the Champions League spots. Goals from Federico Chiesa and Dusan Vlahovic secured the win, further complicating Milan’s campaign. With Napoli and Juventus both in fine form, their meeting next week promises to be a pivotal encounter in the Serie A title race.
