ROME: Juventus moved closer to a third consecutive Serie A title when a long-range Paul Pogba goal beat a dogged Bologna side 1-0, while AS Roma secured second spot and a Champions League place by winning 1-0 at Fiorentina.

Antonio Conte’s Juve are still eight points clear of Roma after Pogba, the France international and former Manchester United midfielder, scored with a long, low shot from beyond the area 64 minutes into a nervy display against a well-organised Bologna team who hardly ever left their own half.

“Against Bologna the only thing that counted was winning,” said Conte. “It wasn’t an easy game because when teams are that low down in the league they come to the Juventus Stadium and don’t play, they just look to defend.”

With four matches remaining, and having lost only twice in the league all season, Juventus can reasonably expect to become the first club to break the 100-points barrier. Inter set the record of 97 in 2007.

Roma’s eighth win in succession was secured with a neat goal from Radja Nainngolan, who slid in to poke home former Fiorentina forward Adem Ljajic’s neat through ball in the 26th minute of a tight game in Florence.

Rudi Garcia’s side now have 82 points with four games to play, 14 ahead of Napoli who drew 1-1 at Udinese earlier on Saturday and 24 in front of fourth-placed Fiorentina.

“We are certain of second place as well as a spot in the Champions League, but we still believe we can get first place in the table,” said Garcia. “I am happy and my happiness is also for the players as they deserve this.”

Earlier, Mario Balotelli set a personal record with his 14th goal of the Serie A season and set up another as AC Milan beat visiting Livorno 3-0 for its fifth straight win.

Balotelli scored with a textbook header from the centre of the area in the 43rd at the San Siro before goals from Moroccan Adel Taarabt, six minutes after the break, and Giampaolo Pazzini, six minutes from time, after taking a pass from Balotelli secured the points.

Balotelli’s previous best output was 13 goals, with Manchester City in 2011-12, and City and Milan combined last season.

“I’m happy to have reached the record but I have to improve, because there are players that score 40 in a season,” said Balotelli.

Still, Milan remained five points behind city rivals Inter Milan in the race for fifth place and the final Europa League berth, after Inter beat 10-man Parma 2-0.

Inter suffered a nerve-racking few minutes around the interval at Parma, with Antonio Cassano missing a penalty just before the break before Portuguese striker Rolando made amends shortly afterwards by scoring with a diving header.

Argentine-born Gabriel Paletta was sent off for a second yellow card and even though Parma continued to press Inter, the numerical advantage told in the end as Fredy Guarin grabbed a second for Inter a minute from time as Walter Mazzarri’s side stay fifth on 56 points, five ahead of Parma and Milan.

Torino striker Ciro Immobile enhanced his claim for a place in Italy’s World Cup squad with his 20th goal of the season.

But his last-minute effort was in vain as Lazio grabbed a point with the last kick of the game in the Olympic Stadium to secure a 3-3 draw which left Torino eighth, level with Lazio and two behind Milan.