Photo: AP Lazio's Miroslav Klose celebrates after scoring during a Serie A soccer match against Sassuolo, at Reggio Emilia's Mapei stadium, Italy, Sunday, March 1, 2015.
MILAN (AP) — Lazio kept up the pressure on third-placed Napoli with a comfortable 3-0 win at Sassuolo in Serie A Sunday as the race for the final Champions League spot gathered pace.
Goals from Felipe Anderson, Miroslav Klose and Marco Parolo helped Lazio record its third successive win and move two points behind Napoli, which can go level with second-placed Roma with a victory at Torino later.
Mohamed Salah was on target again as Fiorentina remained a point behind Lazio following a 1-0 victory at Inter Milan, while Sampdoria was three points further back after coming from behind to win 2-1 at Atalanta.
In the lunchtime kickoff Cagliari lost a relegation battle 2-1 at home to Hellas Verona. Elsewhere, Palermo drew 0-0 at Empoli, while Cesena beat Udinese 1-0. Parma's match at Genoa was postponed, with the players protesting the situation at the financially-stricken club and the lack of help from the Italian footballing authorities.
It was the second match in a row Parma has postponed and all matches this weekend started 15 minutes late in a show of solidarity with the crisis-hit club. Sassuolo was struggling of late, losing its past two matches and Lazio broke the deadlock on the stroke of halftime. Francesco Acerbi headed out Seydou Keita's cross but only as far as Felipe Anderson, who curled a delightful shot into the top right corner from just outside the area.
The Brazilian was also involved in both Lazio's other goals, with a cross into the box for a Klose header in the 70th minute — shortly after the Germany forward had come off the bench — and a shot which took a series of ricochets before Parolo fired it home.
Both Fiorentina and Inter were in form and full of confidence after progressing to the Europa League round of 16 midweek. Inter had also won its past three league matches. Salah scored the only goal of the game 10 minutes into the second half, following up after Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic fumbled at Manuel Pasqual's cross and only succeeded in parrying it straight to the feet of the Egypt international.
It was Salah's third goal in his four Serie A matches since joining Fiorentina from Chelase. He also scored midweek against Tottenham Hotspur. Inter, which had earlier hit the post through Fredy Guarin, went close to the equalizer on several occasions.
Fiorentina ended the match with nine men after Nenad Tomovic and Stefan Savic were stretchered off with injuries. Sampdoria was looking to reignite its fight for third spot after a run of six matches without a win in all competition.
However, it was Atalanta which took the lead in the 16th minute when Guglielmo Stendardo tapped in Boukary Drame's cross. Luis Muriel leveled with a magnificent goal, chesting down Stefano Okaka's cross, letting it bounce and then smashing it under the bar on the half volley.
Samuel Eto'o almost scored his first goal since arriving at Samp from Everton in January with a powerful strike which Marco Sportiello fumbled and let it fall behind him, but Okaka pounced to make sure it crossed the line.
Atalanta remained three points above Cagliari and the drop zone. Luca Toni got Verona off to a great start in Sardinia with a great finish in the ninth minute and substitute Juanito Gomez Taleb nodded in a free kick to extend the visitors' lead in the 56th, just five seconds after coming off the bench.
Daniele Conti netted a consolation in the final minute as his free kick was allowed through. Cesena moved a point behind Cagliari after Alejandro Rodriguez headed home Franco Brienza's cross. There were plenty of chances in Palermo but no goals. Franco Vazquez went closest with an effort which smacked the crossbar. Incredibly it was the eighth time this season that the Palermo forward has hit the woodwork.
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