ROME: AS Roma’s hopes of reaching the Champions League next season faded with a goalless draw at Sassuolo in Serie A on Saturday.

There are two Champions League places left to take in Italy behind league winners Juventus and second-placed Napoli. Claudio Ranieri’s side, semi-finalists in the elite European competition last season, are now fifth, provisionally three points behind Inter Milan, and two adrift of Atalanta who occupy fourth.

Roma had their chances at Sassuolo with both Edin Dzeko and Justin Kluivert hitting the post.

Elsewhere, Domenico Criscito’s late penalty grabbed a point for Genoa in a 1-1 draw against Cagliari to move two points above the relegation zone with one game to play.

Udinese’s on-loan Watford striker Stefano Okaka scored a quick-fire brace in a 3-2 win over SPAL to boost their chances of survival as they moved five points clear of the drop zone.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2019