Roma-Napoli 2-0: Lukaku and Pellegrini punish nine-man Napoli

In the 17th round of the Serie A 2023/2024 season, the match between Roma and Napoli was staged at the Stadio Olimpico.

The game ended 2-0, with Roma walking away as the winners.

The climax of the match occurred in the 90’+6 minute when Ndicka master-minded a four-on-one counterattack for Roma, setting up Lukaku who skillfully netted the ball on the second post.

The game was also marred by three ejections as Napoli ended the game with only eight players – a significant low for the team. Napoli’s Natan was unable to continue playing after a collision with Roma’s Lukaku, Napoli had already lost Osimhen to a red card in the 84th minute and Politano in the 66th minute for a kick on Zalewski.

Roma had set the pace of the match much earlier. At the 76th minute, there was a scramble around the Napoli penalty box. After Azmoun’s shot was denied by Napoli’s defenders, the ball landed in front of El Shaarawy. His dreadful kick turned into a well timed pass for an oncoming Pellegrini who volleyed it right into the top corner for Roma’s first goal.

Roma’s line-up boasted a formidable 3-5-2 formation under the management of José Mourinho, with Rui Patricio in goal, Mancini, Llorente and Ndicka in defence, and the likes of Belotti and Lukaku leading the strike force.

On the other side, Napoli, under Walter Mazzarri, fielded a 4-3-3 formation, with Meret in goal and a forward trio of Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia.

The goals were scored by Pellegrini in the 76th minute and Lukaku in the 90’+6 minute to secure the 2-0 victory for Roma over Napoli.

As the final whistle blew, Roma celebrated the victory, ending the game on a high note while Napoli were left to lament a game which ended in defeat and with fewer players than they had started with.