Roma keep up pressure on Juve in Serie A title chase

Rome, April 7 (IANS) Mattia Destro scored his maiden Italian Serie A hat-trick to keep Roma's faint scudetto hopes alive after a 3-1 win away to Cagliari that helped reduce the gap to leaders Juventus to just five points.

Parma offered the Giallorossi an unexpected boost with a shock 1-0 win over Napoli in Sunday's other match, reports Xinhua.

Juventus may restore their eight-point lead when they host struggling Livorno Monday night.

Roma coach Rudi Garcia told Sky Sport Italia: "The race for the title isn't over, but it's not down to us. All we have right now is a tight grip on second place, and we'll try to hold on to it until the end of the season."

Roma's win extended their lead over Napoli to 12 points and the Giallorossi kept that cushion after Rafael Benitez's men were stunned, for the second time this season by Parma, at the Enzo Tardini stadium.

Fiorentina sit fourth after a 2-1 win at home to Udinese while at the other end of the table Sassuolo injected a sliver of hope into their relegation battle with a shock 2-0 win away to Atalanta, thanks to a double from Nicolae Sansone.

Sassuolo, however, remain second from bottom and are three points from safety.

Earlier Sunday, Antonio Candreva and Senad Lulic struck in either half as 10-man Lazio to secured a precious 2-0 win over Sampdoria.

Edy Reja's men are now seventh, two points behind Parma and Inter, and still in Europa League contention.