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Serie A round-up: Genoa own-goal sees Juventus keep pace with leaders Napoli

Image: Juventus kept pace with Serie A leaders Napoli with victory over Genoa

Ten-man Juventus needed an own goal from Genoa defender Sebastian De Maio to maintain their pursuit of Serie A leaders Napoli.

With the Azzurri winning 2-0 at Lazio on Wednesday night, Juve had to beat lowly Genoa to stay within two points of first place.

They did so, thanks only to an unfortunate moment for centre-back De Maio, who turned Juan Cuadrado's cross into his own net to gift Juve their 1-0 victory.

Simone Zaza was sent off at the death for a Bianconeri side who have now won 13 consecutive league games.

It was Gonzalo Higuain's 23rd goal of the season that propelled Napoli towards success at the Stadio Olimpico against Lazio.

The in-form Argentinian striker made it seven goals from his last five outings with a first-half strike, and Jose Callejon doubled the lead a few minutes later.

Napoli's forward from Argentina Gonzalo Higuain (L) celebrates after scoring during the Italian Serie A football match Lazio vs Napoli on February 3
Image: Napoli's forward from Argentina Gonzalo Higuain (L) celebrates after scoring against Lazio

Fiorentina held on to third place thanks to Mauro Zarate, whose stoppage-time goal downed Carpi 2-1 in Tuscany.

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The relegation-threatened club were within seconds of extending their unbeaten run to six games after Kevin Lasagna cancelled out Borja Valero's early opener, but Zarate had other ideas and rescued Fiorentina with a curling effort at the death.

Roberto Mancini's ailing Inter Milan claimed an overdue victory - beating Chievo 1-0 despite the best efforts of Andrea Seculin.

Inter Milan's forward from Argentina Mauro Icardi celebrates with teammates after scoring during the Serie A football match Inter Milan vs Chievo Verona
Image: Inter Milan's forward from Argentina Mauro Icardi celebrates with teammates after against Chievo

Mauro Icardi's goal separated the teams at San Siro, but the fourth-placed Nerazzurri might have run riot if not for the heroics of Chievo's goalkeeper.

Inter's city rivals AC Milan followed up Sunday's derby triumph with a 2-0 win at Palermo that brought them within six points of the Champions League spots.

Goals from Carlos Bacca and M'Baye Niang ensured Sinisa Mihajlovic's men continued their steady rise up the table, with Roma, Inter Milan and Fiorentina now firmly in their sights.

Palermo's midfielder Mato Jajalo vies with AC Milan's forward from France Mbaye Niang during the Italian Serie A football match Palermo vs AC Milan
Image: Mario Balotelli in action in AC Milan's win at Palermo

At the other end of the table, Hellas Verona celebrated a first victory of the season after recovering to defeat 10-man Atalanta 2-1.

The Gialloblu triumphed at the 23rd time of asking thanks to goals from Luca Siligardi and Giampaolo Pazzini. Andrea Conti had given Atalanta the lead but the Bergamo side were weakened by the dismissal of left-back Boukary Drame.

Hellas remain rooted to the bottom of the table but Frosinone can see light at the end of the tunnel after edging out 10-man Bologna.

Federico Dionisi's second-half penalty followed Marios Oikonomou's sending-off and 19th-placed Frosinone are now only five points behind Sampdoria.

FROSINONE, ITALY - FEBRUARY 03:  Federico Dionisi of Frosinone celebrates after scoring goal 1-0 during the Serie A match between Frosinone Calcio and Bolo
Image: Federico Dionisi celebrates as Frosinone edge out Bologna

Andrea Belotti struck deep into stoppage time as Vincenzo Montella's Sampdoria were held to a 2-2 draw by Torino at the Marassi.

Luis Muriel boosted the hosts ahead only to watch Belotti equalise. Roberto Soriano restored Samp's lead yet Belotti returned at the death to rescue a point.

Elsewhere, Empoli and Udinese shared a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Carlo Castellani with Manuel Pucciarelli scoring a late leveller to cancel out Duvan Zapata's opener for the visitors.

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