Lukaku helps keep perfect Inter top with derby triumph

Romelu Lukaku fired Inter Milan back top of Serie A with the second goal of a 2-0 derby win that extended their perfect start to the season at the expense of city rivals AC Milan.Belgium striker Lukaku and Marcelo Brozovic's second half strikes gave Inter their fourth win in as many games, putting them two points ahead of Juventus after the champions' came back from a goal down beat Verona 2-1 thanks to Aaron Ramsey's first Serie A goal and a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty.Antonio Conte's Inter were looking for a boost after their dismal 1-1 draw in their Champions League draw against Czech outsiders Slavia Prague.And they hit back in a fiery Milan derby with Belgian striker Lukaku heading in his third goal in four games with 12 minutes remaining after Brozovic's 49th-minute opener.“At 26 years old, I needed and wanted a coach like this, one who motivates me every day,” said Lukaku of Conte.Milan could thank Gianluigi Donnarumma for keeping the match goalless in the first half after he denied Lautaro Martinez, Lukaku and Danilo D'Ambrosio.Juventus had trailed in Turin to Miguel Veloso's goal before Wales midfielder Ramsey pulled the champions level in the 31st minute, with Ronaldo's spot-kick ensuring the win for the hosts just after the break.It got Maurizio Sarri's side back to winning ways after last weekend's Serie A stalemate at Fiorentina and a 2-2 Champions League draw at Atletico Madrid midweek.Italian goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon returned to the Juventus goal after spending a season in Paris Saint-Germain to match Paolo Maldini's Italian record of 902 club matches.Buffon's appearances have been spread across three clubs - Parma, Juventus and PSG - with Maldini having spent his entire career with Serie A rivals Milan.But the 41-year-old could not keep a clean sheet and was beaten by Veloso after 21 minutes.Amid confusion in front of the Juve goal after Simone Di Carmine missed a Verona penalty, and Darko Lazovic's rebound rattled the bar, Veloso pounced to rifle a long range strike past Buffon.But Ramsey got the champions back on level terms 10 minutes later on his full debut, with a deflected effort past Verona goalkeeper Marco Silvestri.Ronaldo put Juventus ahead from the spot with just his second goal this season three minutes after the restart, having missed two chances before the break. Juve held on thanks to Buffon, who denied Mattia Zaccagni and Lazovic in front of goal after 89 minutes, while Veloso was denied a brace by the post. NAMPA/AFP

Lukaku helps keep perfect Inter top with derby triumph

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-05

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Lukaku helps keep perfect Inter top with derby triumph

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-05

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