Paulo Dybala was the hat-trick hero as Roma edged to a 3-2 Serie A win over Torino at the Stadio Olimpico that kept up their European aspirations.
Daniele de Rossi’s side, in the former midfielder’s eighth game in charge in all competitions, lacked some of their rhythm but were not punished by the visitors, who remain 10th in Serie A.
Roma moved within two points of Atalanta in fifth as they closed the gap on the European places.
Argentine forward Dybala converted a penalty three minutes before the interval to edge the Giallorossi ahead after Saba Sazonov – an early substitute – had felled Sardar Azmoun in the area.
However just two minutes later, former Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata levelled with a trademark towering header from Raoul Bellanova’s stand-up cross.
Dybala netted his, and Roma’s, second on 57 minutes, as he arrowed a tremendous left-footed drive into the bottom corner, beyond the reach of the floundering Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.
And 12 minutes later it was three, as Dybala claimed possession of the match ball when his strike from a tight angle found the far corner.
The visitors, managed by the Croatian Ivan Juric, refused to lie down, and halved the deficit with two minutes to play as Dean Huijsen put through his own net, but De Rossi’s side used their nous to see the game out and secure all three points.
Fiorentina edge out Lazio
Elsewhere, Vincenzo Italiano’s Fiorentina overcame Lazio 2-1 at the Artemio Franchi.
Luis Alberto had put Maurizio Sarri’s visitors ahead on the stroke of half-time as he slotted into the bottom corner to finish a sweeping move, but the Viola roared back in the second half, levelling just after the hour.
It was Michael Kayode, the right-back, who provided the equaliser, tapping home after the hosts caught their visitors out with a quick counter.
Nico Gonzalez missed a penalty on 67 minutes after Andrea Belotti, the striker on loan from Roma, was felled by Nicolo Casale, but the Argentine winger’s blushes were spared just two minutes later.
Giacomo Bonaventura scored what would prove to be the winner, following in the rebound after Ivan Provedel had parried Lucas Beltran’s effort to keep Fiorentina’s noses just ahead of their opponents in the race for Europe.
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