With Chievo, Cagliari and Torino all picking up wins - the latter at the expense of Ascoli - there is no way back for the bottom two.

Ascoli's Serie A fate was finally sealed with a single-goal defeat at Torino, who edged two points clear of the drop zone thanks to Alessandro Rosina's effort.

After two troubled seasons in the top flight of Italian football, Nedo Sonetti's side drop back down to Serie B along with Messina, after their relegation was finally mathematically confirmed.

The win could prove crucial for Torino who move up to 14th place on 36 points, although it is still realistic that any of the sides in the bottom half of the league could fall into the third and final relegation place, with just three games remaining.

Hernan Crespo's second-half goal condemned Messina to Serie B football next season as they lost 1-0 to champions Internazionale.

The Argentina frontman made an immediate impact after coming off the bench, scoring 19 minutes from time to maintain the Nerazzurri's already unassailable advantage at the summit.

The goal was a bitter blow for the Sicilians, for whom Arturo Di Napoli's penalty had been saved by Francesco Toldo only a few minutes earlier.

The defeat left Messina 10 points adrift of the last position of safety with only three games remaining.

Siena now occupy the final relegation spot as their alarming late-season slide continued with a 3-1 defeat at Atalanta - their third straight loss.