Lukaku takes down former club Roma to keep Napoli top of Serie A

Romelu Lukaku ensured Napoli maintained their one-point lead at the top of Serie A with the only goal in Sunday's 1-0 win over his old club Roma.

Belgium striker Lukaku poked home his fifth Napoli goal from Giovanni Di Lorenzo's low cross seven minutes after half-time in Naples, handing veteran Claudio Ranieri a defeat on his return to management with his boyhood club Roma.

Napoli lead Atalanta, Inter Milan and Fiorentina by a point in a crowded title race which is yet to offer up a clear favourite for the Scudetto.

Lazio can join the chasing trio on 28 points with a home win over Bologna in Sunday's late match, with Juventus also four points off the pace in sixth.

"We knew before kick-off that this was going to be a big match for us because the other teams all won," said Lukaku to Sky Sport.

"It's too early to talk about the title. All we can do is look out for how we develop as a team, work to improve and win every match we play. But now is not the moment to talk about the title."

Napoli were the better team at the Stadio Maradona and should have been ahead as early as the second minute but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia somehow sent a free header wide from less than six yards out.

Kvaratskhelia was also involved four minutes after half-time with a pinpoint cross from which Lukaku glanced just wide.

Ranieri has a job on his hands at Roma, who are four points above the relegation zone in 12th, but his team were unlucky not to level in the 66th minute when Artem Dovbyk thwacked a header off the bar.

"We have problems, that's why they called me, and we played against a team fighting to win the title," said Ranieri.

"Given all that, I'm happy with the performance. We made mistakes but the desire to get the season on the right track is there."