Romelu Lukaku scores twice as Roma defeats Cagliari and Fiorentina 4-1 in Ligue 1

At Roma, Romelu Lukaku is having an instant effect. Meanwhile, Paulo Dybala is still prone to injuries.

Lukaku increased his total to seven goals in eight games in all competitions with the Giallorossi on Sunday with two goals in Roma’s 4-1 Serie A victory at last-place Cagliari.

Lukaku said, “Many things were spoken about me, but I worked hard during the summer. “I work in this field.”

After missing significant portions of the previous season due to injury, Dybala abandoned the game in the first half with a left knee problem.

Lukaku redirected a cross from Rick Karsdorp into the goal with his chest after Leonardo Spinazzola had put him up earlier. In the 87th minute, he received a feed from Leandro Paredes and used a crisp inside-the-area shot to score once again.

Prior to Lukaku’s first goal, Roma had taken the lead via Houssem Aouar, then Andrea Belotti, who had come in for Dybala, added another goal for the Giallorossi.

Cagliari’s Nahitan Nandez successfully executed a late penalty.

In the Europa League, Lukaku, who joined Roma on loan in August, has also played a significant role. He got the lone goal in Thursday’s 4-0 triumph against Servette and the game-winning goal in Roma’s opening 2-1 victory over Sheriff.

Jose Mourinho, the Roma coach, was crucial in Lukaku’s choice to go to the city, he said.

“(Mourinho and I) have a great bond. He is aware of my family. He is aware of my children,” Lukaku stated. “He really has faith in me, and I really have faith in him.”

While Cagliari stayed winless, Roma climbed to the tenth spot, putting coach Claudio Ranieri in danger.

The reigning champion Napoli was defeated at home by Fiorentina, a team who finished as a semifinalist in the previous season’s Europa Conference League, 3-1.

Midway in the second half, Giacomo Bonaventura added the Viola’s second goal with a 12-yard field goal after Alfred Duncan provided an unintentional assist.

With four goals and two assists this season, Bonaventura, 34, has contributed to the most goals among Serie A midfielders. On Friday, he was selected for Italy’s team for the first time in three years.

Fiorentina took the lead right away thanks to a tight-angle shot from Josip Brekalo that went between Alex Meret’s legs for Napoli. In the last seconds of the first half, Victor Osimhen scored a penalty to tie the score.

Substitute In the last seconds of the second half, Nico Gonzalez completed a counterattack to secure the victory for Fiorentina.

At the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in early September, Lazio also defeated Napoli.

Napoli, who was in fifth position, is now three points behind Fiorentina in fourth.

Napoli lost at home for the second time in six days after being defeated 3-2 by Real Madrid on Tuesday in the Champions League.

Atalanta was defeated 3-2 by Lazio after losing a two-goal lead at the Stadio Olimpico.

After 11 minutes, Lazio had a 2-0 lead thanks to an own goal from Charles De Ketelaere and a goal by Valentin Castellanos, who began at center forward in place of the injured Ciro Immobile.

Atalanta was subsequently leveled by goals from Ederson and Sead Kolasinac before substitute Matias Vecino, a former New York City FC player, gave Lazio the victory seven minutes from time with an incredible half volley.

With goals from Andrea Colpani, Samuele Vignato, and Matteo Pessina, Monza defeated struggling Salernitana 3-0 to climb up to seventh place in the table.

Reinier Jesus, who is on loan from Real Madrid, scored for Frosinone in his Serie A debut on a 2-1 victory against Hellas Verona. Prior to Milan Djuric’s equalizing goal for Verona, Frosinone, who is now in ninth place, scored twice via Matias Soule.