Serie A: Roma held to frustrating draw at Lecce, Bologna strengthen ...

AS Roma suffered a blow in their bid for a top-four finish in Serie A after they were held to a goalless stalemate against Lecce on Monday.

Both teams had chances to win the game, with Lecce enjoying the best opportunities, but the spoils were shared after an entertaining encounter.

Lecce threatened twice in the late stages of the first half when Roberto Piccoli had an effort from the edge of the box saved by Mile Svilar, and then moments later Piccoli wriggled past Evan Ndicka before sending a shot over the bar from a tight angle.

Roma came close to an opener on the brink of half-time when Bryan Cristante teed up Angelino from a free-kick just outside the box, but the defender’s low strike was denied by the foot of the post.

Patrick Dorgu was presented with the best chance of the game when Lecce broke forward and Piccoli set up the 19-year-old who was free in the box, but he rolled his effort wide of the post.

Roma went straight down the other end and Rick Karsdorp delivered an inviting cross for Romelu Lukaku, whose header flashed wide of the goal.

The hosts could have stolen all three points in the dying minutes when Nicola Sansone brought down a deep corner with his chest at the back post before firing over the bar.

In added time, Remi Oudin came close to a late winner for Lecce, but his effort from 30 yards grazed the bar.

The result leaves Daniele De Rossi’s side in fifth behind fourth-place Bologna, who were the only team in Serie A to post a victory on Monday.

Thiago Motta’s side have a five-point buffer over Roma as they bid to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history.

Riccardo Orsolini and Alexis Saelemaekers gave the hosts a two-goal lead over bottom side Salernitana in the first half, before Charalampos Lykogiannis scored a 92nd-minute wonder strike to make sure of the three points.

Elsewhere, Ibrahim Sulemana scored within two minutes of coming off the bench to cancel out Federico Bonazzoli’s first-half opener in Cagliari’s 1-1 draw against Hellas Verona.

Both teams remain two points clear of the drop, while Sassuolo and Udinese - both in danger of the drop - also drew 1-1.

Gregoire Defrel gave Sassuolo the advantage as Davide Ballardini’s side looked to escape the bottom three, but Florian Thauvin equalised on the brink of half-time.

Sassuolo are second from bottom, one point from safety, while Udinese are three points clear of the relegation zone.

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