Napoli win to delay Juventus title celebrations

Napoli avoided handing Juventus the Serie A title and relegated Chievo Verona to the second division with a 3-1 victory over the last-place club yesterday.

Carlo Ancelotti's team needed three points to prevent the Bianconeri from celebrating the title, and they achieved this following a brace from Kalidou Koulibaly and a goal from Arkadiusz Milik.

Still, Juventus are 17 points ahead of Napoli with six rounds remaining and can clinch a record-extending eighth straight title next weekend against Fiorentina.

Chievo were mathematically assured of going down to the second division. The Verona club has won only once this season and was also given a three-point penalty for false accounting.

Koulibaly didn't even need to jump to head in a cross from Dries Mertens after a quarter-hour for his first Italian league goal of the season.

Milik then curled a long shot in after the hour mark, his sixth from beyond the area this season -- top in Serie A.

Koulibaly's second was a half-volley following a rebound.

Bostjan Cesar pulled one back for Chievo near the final whistle with a header.

On Thursday, Napoli will attempt to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Arsenal in the return leg of the Europa League quarter-finals.

Torino's chances of sneaking into the Champions League were hampered by a 1-1 draw against Cagliari, in a match which saw three players sent off.

Zaza sent off

Simone Zaza was both hero and villain for Torino as he gave his team the lead shortly after half-time, but was then shown a straight red card in the 73rd minute for dissent.

Cagliari immediately made the most of the numerical advantage as Leonardo Pavoletti headed in the equaliser. There were suspicions of offside, but the goal was awarded after a lengthy video review.

Cagliari defender Luca Pellegrini was sent off following a second booking eight minutes from time. His teammate Nicolo Barella was also dismissed following a second yellow card in stoppage time.

Torino remained seventh, five points behind AC Milan and the final Champions League qualifying spot.