El Shaarawy brace sends Roma up to third

Stephan El Shaarawy hit a brace as Roma continued their push for a place in next season's Champions League with a 3-1 win over Empoli on Saturday.

Roma's sixth consecutive win moved them up to provisional third place in Serie A, five points behind leaders Juventus and four behind second-placed Napoli ahead of their respective games against Inter Milan and Fiorentina.

Roma have been transformed since Luciano Spalletti took over from sacked Frenchman Rudi Garcia for his second spell at the club, but it was an enterprising El Shaarawy who made all the difference on Saturday as the Giallorossi kept themselves in the hunt for Europe's premier club competition.

The Italian, who failed to find the net for the first six months of a loan spell at Monaco in France's first division, broke the deadlock after just five minutes at the Carlo Castellani stadium when he curled a right-footed shot into the far top corner from over 25 metres.

An Ervin Zukanovic own goal, after Roma 'keeper Wojciech Szczesny punched Mario Rui's cross into Zukanovic's face, levelled the game on 22 minutes but Roma were back in front five minutes later thanks to Miralem Pjanic after the Bosnian got the rebound from his own free-kick off the defensive wall.

Empoli came fighting back late in the second half, but El Shaarawy grabbed his fourth goal in five league games 16 minutes from time to wrap up a precious win that could serve Roma well if their direct opponents for the Champions League stumble this weekend.

AC Milan are in acton later Saturday at home to Torino, while Serie A action resumes Sunday when the highlight is Inter's visit to Juventus for the 'Derby d'Italia'.

Fiorentina, in fourth at a point behind Roma, host Napoli on Monday when both sides will be looking for the win that helps them forget their elimination from the Europa League in midweek.