AS Roma 2-0 Napoli: Lorenzo Pellegrini & Romelu Lukaku strike as Giallorossi move up to sixth in Serie A table

Goals from Lorenzo Pellegrini and Romelu Lukaku ensured that Roma took advantage of their numerical advantage as the hosts leapfrogged nine-man Napoli in the Serie A table with a 2-0 win.

There was little to split the two sides until Matteo Politano was sent off in the 66th minute of an ill-disciplined match.

Roma midfielder Edoardo Bove had the two biggest chances of the first half, clipping the top of the bar with a dipping shot before being denied from five yards by a sprawling Alex Meret as he tried to tuck home a cut-back.

Referee Andrea Colombo remarkably booked four players and both coaches in the space of 10 minutes as the game broke up and both sides struggled to find any rhythm.

But a straight red was brandished to Politano for kicking out at Nicola Zalewski and the hosts didn’t need long to take advantage when Pellegrini came off the bench to fire home the opener.

Napoli’s star striker Victor Osimhen followed his team-mate for an early shower when he was shown a second yellow with four minutes to go, allowing Lukaku all the time in the world to pick his spot and score Roma’s second with the final kick of the game deep in stoppage time.

Mourinho and co. will hope they have thrown off the shackles of that history with this result, as things don’t get any easier from here: their next three league games are Juventus (A), Atalanta (H) and AC Milan (A).

He may have had to wait until the final kick of the game to get his goal, but he was a mighty pest for the Napoli defenders to deal with all night with his movement and strength asking no end of questions. The Belgian’s return from suspension was a huge boost and gave the Giallorossi a focal point in attack that they lack in his absence.

ROMA: Rui Patricio 7; Mancini 7, Llorente 7, Ndicka 7; Kristensen 6, Cristante 7, Paredes 7, Bove 7, Zalewski 6; Lukaku 8, Belotti 7

Subs: Pellegrini 8, Azmoun 6, El Shaarawy 7, Celik 6

NAPOLI: Meret 7; Di Lorenzo 6, Rrahmani 6, Juan Jesus 6, Mario Rui 6; Anguissa 7, Lobotka 6, Zielinski 6; Politano 5, Osimhen 5, Kvaratskhelia 6

Subs: Cajuste 6, Zerbin 6, Raspadori N/A, Natan N/A, Gaetano N/A

22’ WHAT A SAVE MERET! Roma so close again! This time Belotti does brilliantly with a turn of pace to get past his marker to the byline and cut the ball across the six-yard box for Bove, but the midfielder’s shot is charged down by Meret at point-blank range! Fantastic save but another huge chance for the young midfielder.

66’ RED CARD! NAPOLI DOWN TO 10 MEN: Wow! Well, we know this referee Colombo isn’t afraid to dish them out, but that was unexpected. Politano is shown a straight red after reacting to Zalewski pulling his shirt. He jumped and seemed to kick out, and the referee says off you go. Zalewski also booked. Napoli down to 10!

76′ GOAL! PELLEGRINI STRIKES FOR ROMA! There is the breakthrough! Pellegrini has only been on the pitch for a few minutes but that’s all he needed to add some spark. The Roma skipper benefits from a mis-hit by El Shaarawy, whose attempted shot cannons off the ground for Pellegrini to swivel his hips and fire the bouncing ball into the far corner. Great finish!

87’ NAPOLI DOWN TO 9 MEN! OSIMHEN OFF! Dear oh dear, this has gone off the rails for Napoli now. Their star striker Osimhen is shown a second yellow and the visitors will be down to nine men for the final five minutes plus stoppages! He’s furious.

96′ LUKAKU SEALS IT, 2-0 ROMA! Napoli try to give it one last go, but Roma quickly storm up the other end and Lukaku has plenty of time and space to have a touch and pick his spot! Game, set, match.