Serie A Round-up: Roma slip up leaves Juventus in control

Roma now sit 8 points behind leaders Juventus

ROME- A disappointing 1-1 draw with high-flying Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico leaves Roma eight points behind league leaders Juventus who cruised past struggling Pescara 2-0 to strengthen their position at the top of Serie A.

 On Saturday, all 20 teams were in action on a bumper day of Serie A football over the Easter weekend.

 Roma were unable to continue their excellent run of four consecutive wins as they could only muster a 1-1 draw with Atalanta. The visitors took the lead in the first half when Jasmin Kurtic volleyed home past former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny on 22 minutes. The Giallorossi responded early in the second period with an equaliser from in-form striker Edin Dzeko, but the home side could not find a winner as their slim title hopes suffered a blow.

 Top of the table faced bottom of the table asJuventus continued to dominate Serie A by easing past Pescara 2-0 at the Stadio Adriatico. Gonzalo Higuaín kept up his recent rich goalscoring vein as he scored a first half brace to seal all three points for the Bianconeri. The result has left Pescara all but relegated as they prop up the Serie A table, still 12 points from safety with only six matches remaining. Contrastingly, Juventus remain on course for their sixth successive Scudetto title as they now sit eight points clear at the top.

 A.C Milan came back from two goals behind to steal a 2-2 draw from rivals Inter in a thrilling Milan derby. Milan’s Christian Zapata scored a last-minute leveller deep into injury time after Alessio Romagnoli had pulled one back on 83 minutes to give Milan hope. Inter looked in complete control heading into the break after Antonio Candreva and Mauro Icardi’s first half goals had put them in the driving seat. Zapata’s equaliser sent Milan fans into raptures and ensured that Rossoneri remain two points above their rivals in sixth place.

 Lazio drew with Genoa 2-2 after Luis Alberto converted an injury time free-kick to snatch a point for the Biancocelesti at the Stadio Luigi Ferrais. The result was a valuable point for the visitors in their quest to secure European football for next year.

 Cagliari thrashed Chievo 4-0 in an entertaining mid-table clash, which leapfrogs I Rossoblu above their opponents into 12th place. A Joao Pedro brace and goals from Marco Borriello and Marco Sau consigned Chievo to their fourth consecutive Serie A defeat.

 Napoli thrashed Udinese 3-0 thanks to dominant second half display in which Maurizio Sarri’s team could have scored even more. Dries Mertens, Allan and José Callejon were all on target as Napoli look to solidify their occupation of the last Champions League spot.

 Manuel Pasqual earnt Empoli a vital 2-1 victory over Fiorentina as he scored in the dying embers to snatch Empoli all three points in the Florence derby. The result boosts the home side’s prospects of survival as they now sit five points clear of the relegation zone.

 Sassuolo came from behind to end their seven-game winless streak with a 2-1 victory over Sampadoria.

 Relegation threatened Crotone salvaged a 1-1 draw at Torino, whilst Palermo and Bologna played out a dull 0-0 draw at the Stadio Renzo Barbera.