Kaka, Del Piero score hattricks

Kaka [Images] netted a hat-trick to help AC Milan keep their Champions League qualification hopes alive with a 5-1 win over relegation-threatened Reggina on Sunday.

Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero also scored three in a 4-0 victory at Atalanta, which means third-placed Juve are almost assured of a Champions League qualifying place.

Milan in fifth are 12 points behind Juventus with four games left but cannot overhaul their rivals because of their inferior head-to-head record against Juve.

Sixth-placed Sampdoria, on the same points as Milan, won 3-0 at home to UEFA Cup hopefuls Udinese and can theoretically catch Juve, whom they host in the final game of the season.

Fiorentina, in the fourth and final Champions League spot, are four ahead of Milan and Samp after beating Palermo 1-0 on Saturday. Sampdoria travel to Florence next weekend.

Leaders Inter Milan were away to Torino later hoping to extend their advantage over second-placed AS Roma to six points after Luciano Spalletti's side drew 1-1 with struggling Livorno on Saturday and lost Francesco Totti [Images] to a serious knee injury.

Cards flew at the other end of the table where Cagliari had two sent off but moved further from the drop zone with a 2-0 win over lowly Empoli.

Strugglers Catania beat nine-man Lazio 1-0 thanks to Gionatha Spinesi's first-half penalty but Parma had three dismissed in a 2-1 home defeat by Napoli and remain in trouble.

Livorno, Empoli and Reggina are in the relegation zone, all with 30 points. Parma are one point above with Catania and Cagliari now five clear.

Kaka's first two goals for Milan came from the penalty spot after the Brazilian and Clarence Seedorf were tripped.

Edgar Barreto grabbed one back with a fierce strike after 40 minutes but Kaka rifled home in the 68th before Filippo Inzaghi and Alexandre Pato completed the job for last season's Champions League winners, who hope to sign Barcelona's Ronaldinho [Images] soon.

Juventus were just as clinical with defender Nicola Legrottaglie heading in Del Piero's free kick in the first minute.

Del Piero, who looks set to miss out on Euro 2008 [Images], again reminded Italy [Images] coach Roberto Donadoni of his worth with a close-range effort, a cool finish and a fierce shot which brought him his 17th goal of the league campaign.

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