Atalanta send down Monza and close in on Champions League

MILAN: Atalanta took a step towards Champions League qualification with Sunday´s 4-0 win at Monza whose long-expected relegation from Serie A was confirmed with the convincing defeat.

Charles De Ketelaere netted his first league goals since before Christmas in the first half as third-placed Atalanta moved six points ahead of Juventus, who sit fifth ahead of their key clash at Bologna later on Sunday.

Ademola Lookman and Marco Brescianini completed the rout with well-taken strikes after the break. With three matches remaining Atalanta are not sure of a spot in Europe´s elite club competition with fellow top-four hopefuls Roma visiting Bergamo next weekend.

Sunday´s match was played after the killing of an Atalanta fan in a fight with a group of Inter Milan supporters in Bergamo late on Saturday night. Riccardo Claris was stabbed to death near Atalanta´s Gewiss Stadium, and his fellow fans paid tribute to the 26-year-old with a banner which read “Claris everywhere with us”.

Monza will play in Serie B next season, ending a three-season run in the top flight for the team owned by the Berlusconi family. Alessandro Nesta´s side are 12 points behind Lecce, who sit just above the drop zone and lost to league leaders Napoli on Saturday.

Roma, in seventh and unbeaten in 18 league matches, could take fourth place from Lazio if they overcome Fiorentina ahead of Juve´s clash at Bologna. Claudio Ranieri´s Roma are three points behind Lazio -- who won 1-0 at lowly Empoli earlier -- and with a superior head-to-head record over their local rivals. Lazio sit a point ahead of Juve in the final Champions League position thanks to Boulaye Dia´s goal just seconds after kick-off in a match which finished with both teams down to 10 men.