Roma and Juve keep the pressure on Milan

AS Roma striker Antonio Cassano (R) is challenged by Simone Barone of Parma during their football match at Tardini stadium in Parma, 29 February 2004. AS Roma won the match 4-1.

Roma and Juventus kept the pressure on league leaders AC Milan with impressive victories on Sunday as the race for the Serie A title gathered pace.

Second-placed Roma dented Parma's hopes of clinching a Champions League place next season with a 4-1 away victory, while reigning champions Juventus thrashed bottom club Ancona 3-0 in Turin where all the goals came in a one-sided first-half.

Roma's victory in Emilia Romagna enabled them to close the gap on Milan to two points, although the European champions can restore their five-point cushion if they win at Lazio later on Sunday. Juventus remain third on 52 points, a point behind Roma.

Like Parma, Inter Milan's Champions League aspirations suffered a setback after losing 3-1 to Brescia at the San Siro where angry home fans vented their anger at the team's performance by pelting the Inter players with missiles.

A first-half penalty from Ernesto Chevanton gave Lecce a 1-0 win over Modena and saw the spirited Puglians pull further clear of the relegation zone, while Sampdoria defeated Chievo by the same scoreline in Genoa where Aimo Diana grabbed the winner shortly after half-time.

In the day's other action, Perugia won for only the second time this season with a 4-2 victory at home to Bologna as they try to retain their Serie A status.

At a snow-covered Ennio Tardini stadium, Alberto Gilardino gave Parma the lead on the half hour with a righted-foot shot, before Antonio Cassano levelled the scores after dribbling the ball around Parma keeper Sebastien Frey.

Olivier Dacourt set up Emerson for Roma's second goal before Francesco Totti's magnificent free-kick gave the visitors a comfortable two-goal cushion.

Brazilian winger Amantino Mancini completed the destruction 13 minutes from time, snapping up the rebound after Frey had parried Francisco Lima's drive.

Juventus piled further misery on winless Ancona with a resounding victory at the Delle Alpi stadium.

Argentine-born Mauro Camoranesi's put Juve in front in the seventh minute with an angled shot before Fabrizio Miccoli swept home Marco Di Vaio's right-wing cross.

Juve put the game beyond doubt in first-half stoppage-time when Alessandro Del Piero beat Sergio Marco from close range.

On Saturday, Empoli gave themselves renewed hope of avoiding the drop with a 2-0 home win over Udinese at the Carlo Castellani stadium.

Empoli remain third from bottom, two points behind Siena and Reggina, who played out a goalless draw the same day.