Romelu Lukaku has scored 12 occasions in Serie A for Napoli this season. (CARLO HERMANN)
Romelu Lukaku made positive that Napoli would keep three factors behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan with a objective and two assists in Monday’s 3-0 win over struggling Empoli.
Belgium striker Lukaku has scored 12 occasions and arrange 10 extra in Italy’s prime flight this season and has been key to Napoli’s battle with reigning champions Inter for the league title.
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The 31-year-old has developed his recreation beneath coach Antonio Conte and is having as a lot of an influence together with his distribution as he’s together with his goalscoring, with Scott McTominay being the beneficiary on Monday.
McTominay ratted in Napoli’s different two targets, taking his tally to eight in his debut Serie A season after being brilliantly served by Lukaku, who arrived final summer time to exchange banished star Victor Osimhen, and has surpassed expectations.
Scotland worldwide McTominay drilled dwelling Napoli’s opener from simply outdoors the realm within the 18th minute after Lukaku used his energy and management to carry up the ball and slip within the marauding midfielder.
Empoli, who sit second-from-bottom and have did not win in 17 matches, have been within the match and harmful till Lukaku doubled the hosts’ lead within the 56th minute, gathering Mathias Olivera’s move and smashing in together with his left foot.
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5 minutes later and Lukaku confirmed a extra delicate contact when establishing McTominay for his brace, floating over an ideal inswinging cross which his former Manchester United teammate confidently headed dwelling.
McTominay almost had a hat-trick within the 66th minute when, after once more being laid on by Lukaku, he rolled a low shot in opposition to the put up when one-on-one with Empoli goalkeeper Devis Vasquez.
Monday’s win retains the stress up on Inter who face Bayern Munich within the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final after which journey to high-flying Bologna subsequent weekend earlier than going through native rivals AC Milan within the Italian Cup semi-finals.
Napoli in the meantime haven’t any commitments apart from making an attempt to win a second Scudetto in three seasons and face only one group from the highest half of the desk — tenth positioned Torino — between now and the top of the season.
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