Lukaku stars to send Napoli top of Serie A
Romelu Lukaku helped himself to a goal and two assists to send Napoli top of the Serie A table with a comfortable 4-0 away triumph against Cagliari.
Lukaku teed up Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia before finding the back of the net, with Alessandro Buongiorno confirming the win in stoppage-time.
Antonio Conte's side took the lead in the 18th minute when Di Lorenzo saw his effort deflect off Yerry Mina and beyond the clutches of Simone Scuffet.
The visitors had to wait until the second half to double their advantage, with Lukaku sending Kvaratskhelia on his way before finishing at the near post.
Kvaratskhelia then turned provider for Lukaku to sweep home Napoli's third after Scuffet's misplaced pass out from the back was ruthlessly punished.
Further gloss was added to the scoreline in second-half stoppage-time when Buongiorno headed home David Neres's inviting corner-kick.
Conte heaped praise on Lukaku, revealing why he was so keen to reunite with the Belgian.
"I have always said that I wanted Romelu at Inter [Milan], had also requested him at Chelsea before he went to Manchester United, because he is an atypical striker," Conte said.
"He is extremely tall and physically strong, but also very good at sprinting forward. His condition is still nowhere near optimal, but he becomes fundamental for us."
Conte, however, dismissed suggestions Napoli is ready to compete for the Scudetto again, saying it has plenty more work to do.
"I do feel that at the moment all teams are settling down still, as the transfer window closed late and we are all trying to find our shape," Conte said.
"We need to keep improving on duels all over the field, keeping focused and concentrated, because that is what you require in Serie A.
"We’ve worked hard over the last two and a half months, we’ve got to put on the blinkers and keep pushing forward without looking at anyone else."
Lukaku has scored and provided more than one assist in a single match only three times in his career in the top five European leagues, now doing so twice under Conte.
The Belgian ended the encounter with an expected goals (xG) tally of 0.77, the highest of anyone in the Napoli team, while also taking his tally to two goals in two games for his new club.
Brazilian Neres, meanwhile, became the first player to provide an assist in each of his first three matches in Serie A, with Napoli's new recruits impressing.
