Cesena 1 : 0 Brescia - Cesena assure safety

Cesena preserved their top-flight status, with a 1-0 victory over already-relegated Brescia at Stadio Dino Manuzzi continuing their fine finish to the Serie A season.

The Cavallucci Marini were all but certain of their Serie A status for another year after just one defeat in their previous six games - but Emanuele Giaccherini's goal just before the hour guaranteed safety.

Massimo Ficcadenti's men started brightly and in the eighth minute Paolo Sammarco hit the post with a right foot shot.

Veteran Brescia striker Andrea Caracciolo went close at the other end 12 minutes later, before Cesena's Luis Jimenez saw a shot saved by young goalkeeper Nicola Leali.

Igor Budan headed over in the 26th minute, then Marco Parolo shot wide, before Giaccherini set up Sammarco for a 39th-minute shot he blazed high over the bar.

Cesena started the second half as they finished the first - on the front foot - and Giaccherini shot over in the 56th minute, then Budan saw an effort go narrowly wide two minutes later.

However, the breakthrough arrived soon after when Giaccherini's low shot from the edge of the penalty box gave Leali no chance as it found the corner of his net.

After on-loan Atalanta midfielder Fabio Caserta had shot wide for the hosts, Brescia came close to an equaliser with 15 minutes remaining when Eder shot narrowly over from the edge of the penalty area.

Caserta went even closer in the 82nd minute after Parolo had set up the opening - but one goal proved enough and at the final whistle the majority of the crowd were able to celebrate an 11th victory of the campaign and successful preservation of their top-flight status over a team who also made the move up a year ago.