AFP, Milan :
Romelu Lukaku starred again for Napoli by scoring once and setting up two more goals in Friday’s 3-1 win over Como which ensured top spot in Serie A for at least another week.
Belgium striker Lukaku laid on Scott McTominay for his first goal in Italy’s top flight after just 25 seconds, before netting from the spot seven minutes after half-time and rolling in David Neres as Napoli extended their league lead to four points.
Closest rivals Juventus can pull back to within a point of Napoli with a home win over Cagliari on Sunday.
Lukaku has settled in immediately in Naples under Antonio Conte, scoring three times in five league appearances in which he has also made four assists for a team which looks ready to challenge for the league title.
“We’re getting there. It’s going to take time because I got here late. It’s all thanks to my teammates, the coaching staff and fans that we’re doing so well,” said Lukaku to Sky. Napoli didn’t have it all their own way at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona as they were pushed hard by promoted Como.
Cesc Fabregas’ team were deservedly level at the break thanks to a stunning long-range strike from Gabriel Strefezza, which came shortly after Nico Paz thumped a shot off the woodwork.
And the match was firmly in the balance until Neres rolled home his second Napoli goal in the 86th minute after being brilliantly slipped through by Lukaku.
Lukaku looks lighter on his feet than he has at any point since winning Serie A with Inter Milan in 2021 and he also supplied a neat pass from which Scotland’s McTominay lashed in his second Napoli goal after also netting against Palermo in the Italian Cup last month.