Donyell Malen on Monday scored in each half as AS Roma beat Cagliari 2-0 to stay in touch with the chasing pack at the top of Serie A.
Leaders Inter are eight points clear of city rivals AC Milan and nine ahead of reigning champions SSC Napoli. Roma are three points further back along with Juventus.
Dutch centerforward Malen had scored only once in four appearances since joining on loan from Aston Villa last month, but he proved his worth on Monday with two excellent finishes.
Photo: Reuters
He ran on to a clever through-ball from Gianluca Mancini and his deft chip over the goalkeeper was equal to the set-up pass.
His second was more of a poacher’s effort as he got on the right side of a packed defense to turn in a low cross 20 minutes after halftime.
The result served as a confidence booster ahead of the weekend’s crunch tie at Napoli.
Cagliari, who were seeking a fourth consecutive Serie A win for the first time in more than a decade, remained 12th.
Atalanta BC moved to within two points of the European places after beating US Cremonese 2-1.
Atalanta are unbeaten in seven league matches and in seventh spot, two points behind Como, and seven behind Roma and Juventus.
Nikola Krstovic put Atalanta ahead after 13 minutes when he got on the end of a nice cross from Giacomo Raspadori. Davide Zappacosta made it 2-0 minutes later with a neat individual goal.
Atalanta’s Lazar Samardzic and Berat Djimsiti also came close as they bossed the first 45 minutes.
Krstovic missed the best chance of the second half and Berat Djimsiti had a goal disallowed in stoppage-time as Atalanta continued to dominate.
Morten Thorsby’s last-minute consolation for Cremonese gave the scoreline a more respectable sheen than the action suggested.
Cremonese are without a victory in 10 games and sit 16th, just five points above the relegation zone.
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