Mattia Destro scored a hat-trick to give Roma a 3-1 win at Cagliari yesterday which piled more pressure on Serie A leaders Juventus.

The 23-year-old took his tally to 13 goals in only 18 games since early December when he returned to action after an injury saga which lasted nearly one year.

Second-placed Roma, who were 14 points behind leaders Juventus just over a week ago, have reduced the a gap to a mere five by winning three times in eight days.

Champions Juventus, who host Livorno this evening and are also involved in the Europa League, have started looking tired and vulnerable while Roma are getting stronger all the time after six wins on the trot.

Destro, who has not looked back since scoring after only eight minutes of his comeback match on December 8, put Roma ahead in the 32nd minute when he tapped in Gervinho’s pass from close range.

Radja Nainggolan sent him clear to add the second with a confident finish in the 56th minute and he completed an excellent afternoon by side-footing home an excellent pass by Alessandro Florenzi.

Chile forward Mauricio Pinilla reduced the arrears with a late penalty for Cagliari who were again forced to play in an almost empty stadium because of ongoing rebuilding works at the Sant’Elia stadium. Only around 4,500 fans were allowed in and were packed into a small area behind one of the goals.

Juventus have 81 points from 31 games, with Roma on 76 from 32 and third-placed Napoli, who were beaten 1-0 by Europa League candidates Parma in the late kick-off, on 64.

Torino striker Ciro Immobile scored his 18th goal of the season, pulling him level with top-scorer Carlos Tevez of Juventus, to give his side a 2-1 win at bottom club Catania.

Gonzalo Bergessio gave Catania the lead in the second minute and mid-table Torino left it late before Alexander Farnerud levelled in the 80th minute and Immobile scored with a deflected goal three minutes later.

Relegation-threatened Sassuolo gave themselves a boost when Nicola Sansone scored twice in a 2-0 win at Atalanta who had set a club record by winning their previous six games.

The teams in the relegation zone are Livorno (25), Sassuolo (24) and Catania (20) while Bologna and Chievo are just outside with 27 each.

Fourth-placed Fiorentina beat Udinese 2-1 after midfielder Juan Cuadrado put them ahead in the first half and then won a soft penalty, converted by Gonzalo Rodriguez, in the 72nd minute.

Bruno Fernandes pulled one back for Udinese with what appeared to be an intended cross.

Lazio comfortably overcame Sampdoria 2-0 with goals from Antonio Candreva and Senad Lulic despite having Lucas Biglia sent off just before the hour for a second bookable offence.

Lazio lost striker Miroslav Klose to a thigh injury before kick-off while Sampdoria coach Sinisa Mihajlovic was forced to watch his team’s meek performance from the stands as he began a two-game touchline ban.

Serie A

Atalanta 0
Sassuolo 2
Sansone 33, 71;

HT: 0-1. Att: 14,000.

Cagliari 1
Pinilla 89 pen;
Roma 3
Destro 32, 56, 74;

HT: 0-1. Att: 4,500.

Catania 1
Bergessio 2;
Torino 2
Farnerud 80; Immobile 83;

HT: 1-0. Att: 14,000.

Fiorentina 2
Cuadrado 25;
Udinese 1
Fernandes 82; Rodriguez 72p;

HT: 1-0. Att: 31,000.

Lazio 2
Candreva 42; Lulic 73;
Sampdoria 0

HT: 1-0. Att: 12,000.
Red card: Biglia (L) 57.

Parma 1
Parolo 55;
Napoli 0

HT: 1-0. Att: 14,841.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Juventus	31	26	3	2	67	22	81
Roma	32	23	7	2	65	18	76
Napoli	32	19	7	6	59	33	64
Fiorentina	32	16	7	9	51	34	55
Inter	32	12	14	6	51	35	50
Parma	32	13	11	8	52	41	50
Lazio	32	13	9	10	42	40	48
Atalanta	32	14	4	14	37	41	46
Verona	32	14	4	14	47	52	46
Torino	32	12	9	11	47	41	45
Milan	31	11	9	11	47	43	42
Sampdoria	32	11	8	13	40	45	41
Genoa	31	10	9	12	34	39	39
Udinese	32	11	5	16	35	44	38
Cagliari	32	7	11	14	30	44	32
Chievo	32	7	6	19	26	47	27
Bologna	32	5	12	15	26	50	27
Livorno	31	6	7	18	34	58	25
Sassuolo	32	6	6	20	31	61	24
Catania	32	4	8	20	24	57	20

Playing today
Juventus vs Livorno - 19.00
Genoa vs Milan - 21.00

Top scorers
18 goals: Tevez (Juventus), Immobile (Torino).
16 goals: Toni (Verona)
14 goals: Rossi (Fiorentina), Palacio (Inter), Higuain (Napoli).

Next fixtures
Saturday: 18.00 Sassuolo vs Cagliari; 20.45 Roma vs Atalanta.
Sunday: 12.30 Bologna vs Parma. 15.00 Livorno vs Chievo; Napoli vs Lazio; Sampdoria vs Inter; Torino vs Genoa; Verona vs Fiorentina. 20.45 Milan vs Catania.
Monday: 20.45 Udinese vs Juve.

Serie B
Bari vs Empoli 3-0

Leading standings: Palermo 66; Em-poli 53; Cesena 52; Crotone, Latina 51; Trapani 49; Siena 48.

Prima Divisione ‘A’
Pavia vs AlbinoLeffe 0-3; Venezia vs Como 2-2; Lumezzane vs Reggiana 0-1; Carrarese vs Cremonese 1-0; Vicenza vs Pro Vercelli 1-1; SudTirol vs Savona 1-0; FeralpiSalo vs San Marino 3-1; Entella vs Pro Patria 0-0.

Prima Divisione ‘B’
Prato vs Ascoli 0-3; Pontedera vs Barletta 3-1; Benevento vs Catanzaro 0-0; Grosseto vs Lecce 0-1; Gubbio vs L’Aquila 0-4; Salernitana vs Pisa 1-0; Perugia vs Viareggio 2-1.