Napoli and Inter Milan closed the gap on leaders AC Milan as Lazio endured another frustrating afternoon.
Milan and Lazio draw as Napoli and Inter close the gap
Napoli and Inter Milan closed the gap on leaders AC Milan as Lazio endured another frustrating afternoon.
Table-toppers
Milan were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw on their travels after letting a lead slip away to
Genoa.
Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato put Milan ahead just before the half-hour mark, but Antonio Floro Flores levelled on the stroke of half-time for the hosts.
Highly-rated striker Edison Cavani set
Napoli on the way to a 2-0 home triumph over struggling
Cesena to ensure the pressure is maintained on Milan.
Cavani struck after just 13 minutes and substitute Jose Ernesto Sosa made certain of the points in stoppage-time.
Reigning champions
Inter Milan are now just five points off the pace, with a game in hand, after seeing off
Roma 5-3 in a thrilling encounter on Sunday evening.
Wesley Sneijder put the Nerazzurri on their way after just three minutes, but saw Fabio Simplicio level 10 minutes later.
Inter were not to be denied, though, and restored their advantage on 35 minutes when Samuel Eto'o found the target.
The Cameroonian striker pulled Inter clear on 63 minutes, converting from the spot after Nicolas Burdisso had seen red for hauling down Giampaolo Pazzini inside the box.
Thiago Motta then celebrated his first call-up to the Italy squad in style as he netted a fourth for the hosts 19 minutes from time, but efforts from Mirko Vucinic (75) and Simone Loria hauled gutsy Roma back into the game.
They were unable to find an unlikely leveller, though, and Esteban Cambiasso grabbed the eighth goal of the night in stoppage-time.
Lazio continue to sit seven points adrift of Milan after being pegged back in a 1-1 draw at home with
Chievo Verona.
Hernanes broke the deadlock for Lazio just before the interval, but Nicolas Frey's 64th minute goal earned Chievo a point.
Bari have been cast further adrift at the bottom of the table after going down to a 2-0 defeat at fellow relegation candidates
Brescia.
Former West Ham United forward Alessandro Diamanti opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 17 minutes and Premier League target Andrea Caracciolo came off the bench to score the second in added time.
Palermo had two substitutes to thank as they twice came from behind to secure a 4-2 victory away to lowly
Lecce.
Guillermo Giacomazzi put Lecce ahead on 17 minutes and then hit the post before Fabrizio Miccoli levelled for Palermo at the end of the first half.
Lecce were back in front four minutes after the break through Jeda, but in-demand midfielder Javier Pastore drew Palermo level again on 56 minutes.
Substitute Abel Hernandez then gave the visitors the lead on the hour mark and fellow replacement Josip Ilic put the game beyond Lecce two minutes later.
Fiorentina remain in mid-table after coming from behind to draw 1-1 away with
Parma.
New signing Amauri put Parma in front on 15 minutes, but Gaetano D'Agostino levelled from the penalty spot two minutes after half-time.
Bologna took advantage of playing much of the game against 10 men to secure a 1-0 home success over
Catania.
Pablo Alvarez was sent off for Catania midway through the first half for collecting two yellow cards and Daniel Portanova scored the decisive goal four minutes before the interval.
