Roma close to Champions League return after derby win; Napoli, PSG, Lille qualify

Roma took a major step toward returning to the Champions League by defeating Lazio 2-0 in a heated derby that ended with both teams reduced to 10 men, while Napoli secured a top-four spot with a 3-0 win at Pisa.

Gianluca Mancini scored two headers from corners, one in each half, at the Stadio Olimpico, lifting Roma to fourth place after Juventus suffered a shock 2-0 home loss to Fiorentina.

Roma have not played in the Champions League since being eliminated in the round of 16 by Porto in 2019, a drought that has left them trailing rivals. However, a win next weekend at relegated Verona will guarantee Roma a place in Europe’s elite competition, given a two-point gap over fifth-placed Como, who beat Parma 1-0, and sixth-placed Juventus.

The derby and all other fixtures were moved 30 minutes earlier to avoid conflicting with the men’s final at the Italian Open tennis tournament, held near the Olimpico later Sunday.

A heavy security presence surrounded the stadium, but the atmosphere was one-sided as Lazio fans continued their months-long boycott in protest against owner Claudio Lotito. Roma’s vocal home supporters celebrated a potentially decisive victory that carried more than local pride.

The derby’s volatility was evident when Nicolò Rovella and Wesley were sent off after a scuffle moments following Mancini’s second goal from Paulo Dybala’s corner in the 66th minute.

Juventus started strongly against Fiorentina, with Francisco Conceição and Dusan Vlahovic creating early chances. Shortly after the half-hour mark, Cher Ndour’s shot deflected off Juventus midfielder Teun Koopmeiners and into the net.

Vlahovic had a second-half goal disallowed after a video review for offside, but Fiorentina defender Luca Ranieri was sent off for protesting the initial award. Despite being down a man, 15th-placed Fiorentina doubled their lead in the 82nd minute through Rolando Mandragora.

Milan sit third, level on 70 points with Roma, after a hard-fought 2-1 win at Genoa, secured by a Christopher Nkunku penalty five minutes into the second half and a drilled strike from Zachary Athekame eight minutes from time. The seven-time European champions have struggled in recent weeks, but a home win over Cagliari next weekend will guarantee Massimiliano Allegri’s team a top-four finish.

Napoli were always favorites against relegated Pisa and sealed their Champions League spot. Scott McTominay opened the scoring in the 21st minute with his 14th goal of the season, and Amir Rrahmani added a second five minutes later from an Eljif Elmas corner.

Rasmus Højlund completed the straightforward victory in stoppage time, as Napoli moved five points ahead of Como and Juventus with one match remaining.

In La Liga, Vinícius Júnior earned Real Madrid a 1-0 win at Sevilla on Sunday in the penultimate round, while results elsewhere confirmed the hosts’ safety from relegation.

Levante secured a vital 2-0 win over Mallorca, who sit 19th and in grave danger, along with 18th-placed Girona after a 1-0 defeat at Atlético Madrid.

After Kylian Mbappe complained midweek that he had been told by head coach Alvaro Arbeloa he was Madrid’s “fourth forward,” the French superstar started against Sevilla. Mbappe set up Vinícius, who powered home a cross to give Madrid the lead in Andalusia.

Atlético’s Antoine Griezmann started against Girona in his final match at the Metropolitano before joining MLS side Orlando City. The France forward, Atlético’s all-time top scorer, appeared visibly emotional and set up Ademola Lookman for the game’s only goal in his 500th appearance for the club.

Barcelona bid farewell to veteran Polish striker Robert Lewandowski in his final home game against Real Betis.

Lewandowski, who won three league titles in four seasons with the club, failed to score in his last game at Camp Nou, as Raphinha opened the scoring with a free-kick and later added a second.

Isco pulled one back from the penalty spot, but João Cancelo restored Barcelona’s two-goal lead with a placed effort from outside the area.

“When I arrived in Barcelona I knew that this club was big, however, thanks to your love it has been incredible,” Lewandowski said. “Today I say goodbye to the stadium, but I will always carry Barcelona in my heart.”

Espanyol secured safety by beating Osasuna 2-1 for their second consecutive victory, ending an astonishing 18-match winless run.

Alavés also guaranteed top-flight survival with a 1-0 win over already-relegated Real Oviedo.

Elche, in 17th place, beat Getafe 1-0 to boost their hopes of avoiding relegation, setting up a potentially decisive final-day clash at Girona.

Paris Saint-Germain lifted the Ligue 1 trophy but then lost 2-1 to neighbors Paris FC in their final match before the Champions League final against Arsenal, as Lille secured European qualification on the last night of the French season.

PSG clinched a fifth straight French title and a record-extending 14th overall with a 2-0 win over nearest challengers Lens on Wednesday, receiving the trophy in a low-key ceremony before kick-off at the Stade Jean-Bouin.

Coach Luis Enrique fielded several key players in PSG’s final outing before facing Arsenal in Budapest on May 30, as they aim to retain the European crown they won for the first time last season.

However, PSG suffered a blow when Ousmane Dembele, last year’s Ballon d’Or winner and newly crowned Ligue 1 player of the season, exited before the half-hour mark with an apparent injury.

Bradley Barcola gave PSG the lead early in the second half, but substitute Alimami Gory equalized and scored a stoppage-time winner for Paris FC, who finished 11th in their first season since promotion.

Lille clinched third place and a return to the Champions League next season, despite ending the campaign with a 2-0 home loss to Auxerre.

Elversberg will play in the Bundesliga for the first time next season after earning promotion with a 3-0 home win over Preussen Münster on Sunday, sparking wild celebrations at the Waldstadion an der Kaiserlinde, which holds most of the town’s residents.

The win, secured by an early goal from Bambase Conte and a double from David Mokwa, guaranteed second place in the standings ahead of Paderborn on goal difference, with fans flooding the pitch to celebrate.

Elversberg suffered heartbreak last season in only their second campaign in the second tier, losing a promotion playoff to Bundesliga side Heidenheim, but they now become the smallest town to have a team in Germany’s top flight.

Spiesen-Elversberg has a population of about 13,000, and the club’s ground holds 10,000. Elversberg has achieved three promotions in the last five seasons, a remarkable rise from the lower leagues.