ROME (AFP) - Lazio and Udinese remain in close contention for a place in the Champions league next season after both teams recorded away victories in Serie A.

Lazio climbed to fourth place after an impressive 3-0 win at third-placed Palermo, while Udinese are tied with Catania for fifth place after beating Torino 3-2.

Lazio have 30 points from their 21 matches played, nine behind Palermo but one ahead of Udinese and Catania.

Tommaso Rocchi put Lazio ahead in Sicily with a crisp shot on the stroke of half time, and Sebastiano Siviglia´s header shortly after the break extended the Rome side´s lead.

Rocchi grabbed his second goal from the penalty spot in the 78th minute after Stephen Makinwa had been brought down in the box by Palermo captain Eugenio Corini.

Rocchi said he felt Lazio could qualify for Europe´s premier club competition if they stopped throwing away points to the so-called weaker sides.

"To reach the Champions League you have to be consistent, and although we have beaten some very good teams this season, we have slipped up against sides that we should be beating," the 29-year-old striker told Italy´s Sky Sports.

Earlier on Saturday, goals from Christian Obodo, Brazilian striker Barreto and Gyan Asamoah put Udinese firmly in control in Turin before Torino fought back with two late strikes from Elvis Abbruscato.

Udinese´s victory made it two wins out of two for new coach Alberto Malesani who took over from Giovanni Galeone after the club´s 2-0 defeat at Palermo on January 14.

Torino, whose coach Alberto Zaccheroni was in charge of Udinese between 1995 and 1998, remain on 22 points, seven clear of the relegation zone ahead of Sunday´s matches.