Sun Sep 15 15:40:13 UTC 2024: ## Lukaku Starts as Napoli Aims for Third Straight Win Against Cagliari
Napoli manager Antonio Conte has expressed his desire to see his team continue their winning streak as they face Cagliari this evening at the Unipol Domus stadium. The match kicks off at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT).
Following a difficult start to the season with a 3-0 defeat to Verona, Napoli has since bounced back with victories against Bologna and Parma. A win against Cagliari would mark their third consecutive victory, a feat they haven’t achieved in over a year and a half.
“It has been over a year and a half since Napoli won three games in a row, so this could be strong motivation for us,” Conte told Sky Sport Italia. “We know the first weeks of the season are tough for everyone, especially as the transfer window closed so late, it will require time for everyone to settle down. The best recipe to help us through it is to get as many points as possible.”
The resurgence has been fueled by the arrival of Romelu Lukaku, who made his debut as a substitute against Parma and will now make his first start for the club against Cagliari. “Romelu arrived three days before the end of the transfer market, so this has been the first opportunity we’ve had to really work with him and get him back in shape,” Conte explained. “He still has margin for improvement, but is an important player for us.”
Lukaku chose to forgo international duty with Belgium to focus on his fitness at the Napoli training ground, working even on his days off.
Other new signings, Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour, who both scored for Scotland last week, will start on the bench alongside summer arrival David Neres.
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