Fans rally round Totti as Roma in 2nd place

Published: Sun 8 May 2016, 10:23 PM

Last updated: Mon 9 May 2016, 12:25 AM

Francesco Totti made his 600th Serie A appearance as Roma heaped the pressure on Napoli to move up to second spot with a festive 3-0 home win over Chievo on Sunday
One-club man Totti has yet to settle his future despite reports in midweek claiming Roma are finally warming to his request for a 24th and final year's contract. But with some believing this could be the 39-year-old's final season in Italy's top flight, fans, including ultras who had boycotted the Curva Sud for most of the season, flocked to the Stadio Olimpico to show their appreciation for the club legend through banners, t-shirts and flags which all paid tribute to the longevity and loyalty of 'Il Re de Roma' (King of Rome).
Roma's 22nd win of the campaign moved them one point above Napoli into second place, and has heaped the pressure on Maurizio Sarri's men before a tough away fixture at Torino later Sunday. Meanwhile, a late strike from Matteo Politano kept Sassuolo's Europa League hopes alive but sent Serie A strugglers Frosinone back to Italy's second division after a 1-0 defeat on Sunday. - Agencies
Reported Chelsea target Radja Nainggolan got the party started when he fired home from the edge of the area to beat Albano Bizzarri on 18 minutes.
Germany defender Antonio Rudiger doubled Roma's lead six minutes before half-time when he headed Miralem Pjanic's curling free kick past the stranded 'keeper at the back post, although there was more than a hint of offside.
Chievo earned more than their fair share of chances and Paul Jose M'Poku smacked the near post on the half-volley as Wojciech Szczesny came out of the Roma net to close down the angle shortly after the restart.
 Totti was given a standing ovation by the fans before he even kicked a ball in anger when he replaced Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah on the hour.
Only Inter Milan legend Javier Zanetti (615) and AC Milan great Paolo Maldini (647) have made more appearances in Serie A.
The club talisman's first touch left him crumbling to the ground after a challenge but hopes of earning a free kick were immediately waved away.
 Again, Chievo threatened, Antonio Floro Flores nodding just wide before Szczesny was forced to bat away Sergio Pellissier's effort when the towering striker got his head to M'Poku's cross on the edge of the box.
Yet Roma were a constant threat and Stephan El Shaarawy twice came close to adding to the scoreline.
 El Shaarawy first curled just side of Bizzarri's far top corner from outside the left side of the area and, minutes later following a nice build-up by Lucas Digne, saw another promising shot fingertipped to safety by Bizzarri.
 Totti has scored several goals for Roma recently after coming off the bench but this time settled for an assist, his one-touch pass allowing Pjanic to run clear and prod past Bizzarri with five minutes to play.
 On Saturday, Inter Milan beat Empoli 2-1 in the penultimate round to mathematically secure fourth spot in Serie A and a berth in the Europa League.
 AC Milan's chances of also playing in Europe next season improved after it won at 10-man Bologna 1-0.
 Inter, which led Serie A for most of the first half of the season, knew it could not finish higher than fourth but ensured it moved seven points clear of fifth-place Fiorentina, which has two games left.
 "If we had done everything well and we were perfect we would not have finished fourth," Inter coach Roberto Mancini said. "At the end, however, this is the position we deserve for having thrown away a bit after we did well in the first six months. "It remains the best season of the last five years, that is also a positive thing."
 Mauro Icardi fired Inter into an early lead after Ivan Perisic squared the ball to him. Manuel Pucciarelli leveled in the 37th but Perisic restored Inter's lead just three minutes later after Stevan Jovetic's effort was spilled by Alberto Pelagotti.
 Icardi will likely play no part in the final round after the Inter captain limped off in the second half with a thigh strain.
 Bologna had to play 78 minutes with 10 men after Amadou Diawara was sent off for two yellow cards.
 Milan broke the deadlock five minutes from halftime when it was awarded a penalty after Luiz Adriano was brought down by Bologna goalkeeper Junior Da Costa as he was running onto a long ball from Luiz Adriano.
 Da Costa almost redeemed himself by guessing the right way for Carlos Bacca's spot kick but could not prevent it from going in.
 Adam Masina thought he leveled in the final minute but his goal was ruled out for a tight offside decision.
 Milan moved to provisional sixth, two points ahead of Sassuolo, which visits relegation-threatened Frosinone on Sunday.
 "It's normal that people want a Milan which plays better, but today our main aim was the victory," Milan coach Cristian Brocchi said.

By AP

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