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Mattia Destro scored a hat-trick yesterday as Roma won 3-1 at Cagliari to move within five points of Serie A leaders Juventus. |
Roma trail the Turin title holders on 76 points with six games left, but the Bianconeri have a game in hand, today against drop-zone side Livorno.
Roma had trouble early in the game against the hosts from Sardinia before going ahead on their first break when Destro deflected off Gervinho in the 32nd minute.
The 23-year-old got his second in the 56th off a feed by Radja Nainggolan, and completed the hat-trick off Alessandro Florenzi in the 73rd, bringing his season tally to 14. Mauricio Pinilla pulled one back for Cagliari with a late spot kick.
Roma are 12 points clear of Napoli in the race to gain direct access to the Champions League. Napoli are to play a late game at Parma.
Fourth-placed Fiorentina beat Udinese 2-1, Sassuolo remained in the three-team drop zone despite a 2-0 defeat of Atalanta, from Nicola Sansone’s brace.
Torino rallied to beat bottom side Catania 2-1. Ciro Immobile scored the winner to jointly top the scorers’ chart on 18 goals with Juve’s Carlos Tevez.
Lazio beat Sampdoria 2-0 earlier yesterday with goals from Antonio Candreva and Senad Lulic despite the dismissal of team-mate Lucas Biglia.
Candreva flicked home before half-time and Lulic drilled a shot under the bar after Biglia was sent off with a second booking 33 minutes from time.
Cameroon midfielder Joseph Minala made his debut for Lazio, coming on as substitute for Lulic with 13 minutes remaining.
Doubts have surrounded the Lazio youth team player, who appears to be much older than the 17 years stated on his passport. Lazio have certified the regularity of his documents.
Minala arrived in Italy in 2011, playing with amateur teams and raising interest from Napoli, Inter Milan, and Udinese. He has played with Lazio’s youth-team since December. The victory moved Lazio to sixth on 48 points, while Sampdoria stay on 41.
On Saturday, fifth-placed Inter Milan were held to a 2-2 home draw against Bologna, and Verona defeated troubled city rivals Chievo 1-0 to go eighth.