Parma's long-awaited relegation to Serie B was mathematically confirmed as the bankrupt club succumbed to a 4-0 hammering at Lazio.
The Gialloblu have propped up the table for most of the season, with financial meltdown and points deductions cutting them even further adrift, but a recent flurry of positive results had kept faint hopes of a miraculous escape alive - at least until 16 minutes into Wednesday's game at the Stadio Olimpico.
Marco Parolo, Miroslav Klose and Antonio Candreva hit three goals in six first-half minutes to condemn Parma to the second tier, with substitute Balde Keita extinguishing any unlikely attempts at a last-gasp comeback as time ticked away in Rome.
With five games remaining, Parma are 16 points shy of 17th place and intangible safety, while the Serie A title remains technically achievable for Lazio as they trail champions-elect Juventus - 3-2 winners over Fiorentina - by 14 points.
Even though Parma knew results elsewhere could relegate them, the Gialloblu players started enthusiastically and might have opened the scoring inside the first seven minutes, which saw Raffaele Palladino twice worry Federico Marchetti.
But a fateful Lazio onslaught started in the 10th minute and ended six minutes later, leaving Parma in no doubt their race was finally run.
First, former Gialloblu midfielder Parolo beat Antonio Mirante from 25 metres out and three minutes later Klose had converted Stefan Radu's saved shot from a Felipe Anderson cross.
Parma were helpless to resist when, in the 16th minute, Candreva took advantage of a defensive black-out to waltz into an easy one-on-one with Mirante.
The northerners would make it to the break without conceding again but both Klose and Candreva - the latter served by the ever-impressive Anderson - threatened to hit goal number four before the half-time whistle.
Parma were better organised when they returned for the second half and, after repelling a few more Lazio raids, went close through Pedro Mendes in the 67th minute.
Set up by Ishak Belfodil, the Portuguese defender fizzed a powerful left-footed drive just over the bar and, 10 minutes later, Andi Lila sent Marchetti sprawling with a skilful shot on the turn.
But Parma's lasting memory of a trip to the capital for a top-flight engagement came in the form of a goal from substitute Keita, who could do nothing else but turn Candreva's pass beyond Mirante in the 81st minute.
ends