Roma won 2-0 against Cagliari Seri A to end three games without a win and boost their Champions League aspirations thanks to a double from Daniel Mellen.

The Giallorossi were held to 1-1 draws by Milan in the league and Panathinaikos in the Europa League before suffering a 1-0 Serie A defeat at Udinese.

But they bounced back at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday, with Malen’s brilliant chip from a tight angle putting them ahead.

Malen, who joined Roma from Aston Villa last month, doubled his tally with a 65th-minute tap-in as he moved to the capital club. level on points with fourth-placed Juventus. Elsewhere in Serie A, Atalanta beat Cremonese 2-1.

Villarreal Cement holds the fourth position

in LaLigaVillarreal beat Espanyol 4-1 to claim a big win in the battle for Champions League qualification.

Omar Al Hilali had a goal disallowed early on for Espanyol, who could have pulled within five points of Villarreal with victory.

Instead, Villarreal played a lesser game thanks to a clinical display, moving level with third-placed Atlético Madrid.

Georges Mikoutadze put the hosts ahead with a Jose Salinas own goal four minutes before half-time.

Nicolas Pepe and Alberto Molero made the game safe before Leandro Cabrera grabbed a late consolation.

Porto took a big step towards the title

Meanwhile, in Portugal’s Primeira Liga, Porto squandered a chance to go seven points clear at the top of the table as nearby Sporting Lisbon claimed a dramatic 1-1 draw.

Seko Fofana struck the decisive blow at the Estadio do Dragao, the midfielder finding the bottom-right corner in the 76th minute.

Although Sporting claimed a share of the spoils with virtually the last kick of the game, in the 100th minute Luis Suárez scored on a rebound after his penalty was initially saved by Diogo Costa, who was unable to hold on for victory after a handball by Porto goalkeeper Francisco Moura.

Sporting remain within four points of Porto, with unbeaten Benfica three points further back.