ROME: Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain and evergreen AS Roma forward Francesco Totti lit up Serie A on Monday as the two teams won in contrasting fashion to boost their bids for an automatic Champions League spot.

Higuain took his league tally to 32 goals with a double in Napoli’s 2-1 home win over Atalanta and Totti cracked in a spectacular free kick which helped Roma to a 3-2 win at Genoa.

The results left Napoli in second position on 76 points from 36 games, two more than Roma with two games remaining.

Roma, though, enjoy a better head-to-head record if the two finish the season level on points, with fourth-placed Inter Milan ten points back.

Juventus secured their fifth successive Italian title last month, leaving their rivals to battle it out for the other automatic group stage berth in Europe’s premier club competition.

The top two qualify automatically for the money-spinning group stage while the third-placed team enter a playoff round.

CONTRACT STATEMENT

The evening began with 39-year old Totti making another statement to Roma’s ownership as he came on in the second half with Roma trailing 2-1 after Mohamed Salah had given them an early lead.

Having had their advantage wiped out by the club’s former midfielder Panagiotis Tachtsidis and Leonardo Pavoletti, Roma forced the final twist thanks to a moment of magic from their inspirational stalwart.

Totti’s explosive free kick through Genoa’s wall on 77 minutes breathed life back into the capital outfit who clinched the crucial three points through Italy striker Stephane El Shaarawy on 87 minutes.

In his 24th season with Roma, Totti is still waiting for his contract to be extended despite having scored four goals in his last four matches — all as a substitute.

“Over the last 25 years he’s had an impact on plenty of matches, so I don’t see why he shouldn’t continue doing so,” Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi said.

ON TRACK

Needing a win to reclaim second place, Napoli made heavy weather of their victory over 13th-placed Atalanta in Naples.

Serie A top scorer with 32 goals so far, Higuain scored in the 14th and 77th minute before an 85th minute own goal from Raul Albiol made for a nervy finish.

Higuain scored early by meeting a pass from Marek Hamsik with an acrobatic volley inside the box then rose between two defenders to head in his second.

Higuain alone has scored more goals than last-placed Hellas Verona (30) have as a squad.

The home side missed a hatful of chances as Atalanta keeper Marco Sportiello pulled of a string of good saves before Albiol’s own goal on a rainy night at the San Paolo stadium.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2016