With leaders Internazionale winning 2-1 at home to Cagliari, defeat for Roma would have seen the Nerazzurri claim their third successive Scudetto.

But the result was rarely in doubt after David Pizarro opened the scoring in the 18th minute from the penalty spot.

Mirko Vucinic doubled his team's lead two minutes later and Mancini made it 3-0 in the 25th minute and then netted his second shortly after the half-hour mark.

Substitute Nicola Ventola reduced the deficit five minutes after the interval but the visitors could not make further inroads, even after Roma defender Juan was sent off with 15 minutes left to play.

Inter's victory was less dramatic but was still comfortable as they led through Julio Cruz's 21st-minute strike and doubled their lead through second-half substitute Marco Materazzi in the 83rd minute.

Davide Biondini's stoppage-time effort for the visitors was just a consolation.

The results mean Cagliari and Torino remain in relegation trouble, one and two points from safety respectively, but Livorno look almost certain to go down after a 4-1 defeat at home to AC Milan left them at the foot of the table and boosted the Rossoneri's Champions League hopes.

Milan move two points behind fourth-placed Fiorentina - held 2-2 by Sampdoria - thanks to a Filippo Inzaghi hat-trick.

The veteran striker opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, scored his second seven minutes into the second half and completed his treble seven minutes later.

Clarence Seedorf added a fourth in the 70th minute before Dario Knezevic pulled a goal back for the home side two minutes later.

Fiorentina - who can claim a place in the UEFA Cup final by beating Rangers on Thursday - trailed to Christian Maggio's 63rd-minute goal but must have thought they had beaten Samp when Christian Vieri levelled in the 77th minute and Adrian Mutu converted an 84th-minute penalty.

But Daniele Gastaldello's stoppage-time equaliser earned a point for the visitors.

Juventus strengthened their hold on third place with a 5-2 win over Lazio, who were reduced to 10 men for the last 15 minutes when defender Sebastiano Siviglia was red carded.

Juve were 4-0 up at half-time thanks to goals from Giorgio Chiellini (15), Mauro Camoranesi (21), Alessandro Del Piero (32) and David Trezeguet (33).

Lazio did half Juve's lead with Rolando Bianchi (55) and Siviglia scoring but Giorgio Chiellini had the last word with the home side's fifth two minutes from the end.

The relegation clash between Reggina and Parma concluded with a 2-1 win for the home side who are now in the drop zone by one goal difference behind Empoli, who were 1-0 winners at Genoa.

Parma were ahead through Luca Cigarini's 24th-minute penalty but were reduced to 10 men by Massimo Paci's 53rd-minute red card two minutes before Francesco Cozza equalised.

The 34-year-old Cozza scored the winner in the 64th minute which lifted Reggina two points above their opponents

Empoli climbed out of the relegation places with a 1-0 win at Genoa - who had Marco di Vaio sent off two minutes from the end - secured by Ignazio Abate's 15th-minute goal.

Udinese beat Catania 2-1 thanks to goals from Antonio Di Natale (six) and Fabio Quagliarella (38). Juan Vargas replied for Catania.

Napoli drew 0-0 with Siena while Palermo's meeting with Atalanta was also scoreless.