Sassuolo ease relegation fears as Cesena hold Inter
Sassuolo hammered Parma 4-1 to move 11 points clear of the drop zone on a big day at the bottom of Italy's Serie A.
Nicola Sansone was the key man for Eusebio Di Francesco's side, bagging a first-half brace and earning a penalty to set up the victory. Domenico Berardi converted the spot-kick around the hour mark and then Simone Missiroli capped off the win four minutes later.
Parma's 19th defeat of the season leaves them 14 points adrift of safety and looking like sure-fire relegation candidates to add to their crippling financial woes. Conversely, Sassuolo, who ended a run of four straight defeats, now have a considerable cushion above the bottom sides in 13th and barring a disaster should be able to start planning for another season in Italy's top flight.
Hellas Verona are in the same position after Luca Toni's brace propelled them to a 2-0 over Napoli, which also dented Rafael Benitez's side's chances of securing a UEFA Champions League place. Andrea Mandorlini's men are now up to 14th, level on points with Sassuolo, while Napoli's defeat means third-placed Lazio can go three points clear of the Partenopei if they beat Torino on Monday.
Chievo remain 16th but they have now extended their gap over the drop zone to eight points after a 2-0 triumph at eighth-placed Genoa. Alberto Paloschi followed Sansone and Toni's lead by scoring twice for Chievo and that was enough to give them a valuable victory.
Cesena picked up an unlikely point as they drew 1-1 with Inter Milan at the San Siro. Gregoire Defrel put the 19th-placed strugglers in front after half an hour, before Rodrigo Palacio spared Inter's blushes three minutes after the interval.
Palacio's equaliser will have been warmly received in Bergamo after Atalanta, who sit just four points above the drop zone, were held to a 0-0 draw by Udinese. Cesena and Cagliari are now both on 21 points directly below Atalanta in the table and they will be targeting Stefano Colantuono's side as they desperately seek a way out of the mire.