Higuain brace keeps Napoli on track

Photo credit: AFP

Milan (AFP) – Two goals from Gonzalo Higuain gave Napoli a 2-1 win over Atalanta keeping them on track for second place in Seria A on Monday.

And third-placed Roma stayed in the race for the automatic Champions League berth with a 3-2 away win at Genoa.

With two games to go Napoli have 76 points and while Roma have just 74 they enjoy a better head-to-head record if the two finish the season level on points, with fourth-placed Inter Milan ten points back.

Serie A top scorer with 32 so far Higuain scored in the 10th and 77th minute before an 85th minute own goal from Raul Albiol made for a nervy finish.

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Earlier Francesco Totti led a fightback as Roma came from behind to beat Genoa to keep the pressure at boiling point.

Mohamed Salah opened Roma’s account on six minutes with his 13th Serie A strike of the season before Genoa struck back through Panagiotis Tachtsidis on 13 and then took a second half lead through Leonardo Pavoletti with 25 minutes to play.

But Totti’s free-kick on 77 breathed life back into the capitol outfit who clinched the crucial three points through Italy striker Stephane El Shaarawy on 87 minutes.

The 39-year-old playmaker Totti, in what may prove to be his last season with the club, has put in a series of decisive cameo appearances in recent weeks scoring four goals and making one assist in just over 90 minutes of playing time.

Another timely boost for Roma was the return from a 16-months knee injury lay off for Dutch midfield dynamo Kevin Strootman, who had missed much of the previous season with an injury to the same knee.

Juventus secured a record-equalling fifth consecutive Serie A crown last Monday.