MILAN (AP) — Roma put a turbulent week behind it to win at Bologna 2-0 in Serie A on Saturday and continue its push for the Champions League.
The in-form Donyell Malen scored one and set up the other to help Roma close to within two points of fourth-placed Juventus, which visits AC Milan on Sunday.
Roma fired special adviser Claudio Ranieri this week after his very public clash with coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
However, it put issues off the field to one side and took the lead after less than seven minutes. Malen took one touch to control Neil El Aynaoui’s through ball before firing past the onrushing goalkeeper and into the bottom right corner.
It was Malen’s 12th goal for Roma in 16 matches since joining on loan from Aston Villa in January.
Malen repaid the favor in first-half stoppage time by crossing the ball into the area for El Aynaoui to volley in from close range.
Pisa will be mathematically relegated if Lecce manages to win at Hellas Verona later Saturday, which would also consign the home side to Serie B.
Pisa lost at Parma 1-0 to leave it level with Verona at the bottom of Serie A, 10 points from 17th-placed Lecce and safety.
Subsitute Nesta Elphege got the only goal eight minutes from time, controlling a header with his back to goal and turning to sweep in from close range.
That made Parma mathematically safe, setting off a party atmosphere on a sunny afternoon at Stadio Ennio Tardini.