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Serie A round-up

Image: Toni nets the winner against his old club

Napoli kept the pressure on leaders AC Milan with a 2-0 win at Bologna, although the Rossoneri also won.

Toni the hero for Juve as Zlatan sent off again for Milan

Napoli kept the pressure on Serie A leaders AC Milan with a 2-0 win at Bologna. Giuseppe Mascara set Napoli on their way with the opener on the half hour mark and a Marek Hamsik penalty right on the stroke of half-time secured the points for Napoli. However, AC Milan quickly re-established a three-point lead at the top with a 2-1 win at Fiorentina, but the win came at a price with Zlatan Ibrahimovic picking up his second red card in his last two games. Clarence Seedorf put the Rossoneri in front in the eighth minute and Alexandre Pato doubled their lead before the break. Ibrahimovic missed two chances to seal the win before Juan Vargas gave the Viola hope in the 79th minute. The Swedish international striker was then given his marching orders with a straight red card which could see him miss up to three more of Milan's last six games of the season, matches in which Milan will look to defend their three-point advantage over Napoli. Lazio climbed back into the top four and the final UEFA Champions League qualifying position with a 2-0 success over Parma at the Stadio Olimpico. Brazilian Hernanes fired Lazio in front on 23 minutes and Sergio Floccari made the game safe with a second 13 minutes from time. Juventus twice came from behind to overcome Genoa 3-2 in Turin to boost their European hopes. Genoa were gifted the lead after just seven minutes when Leonardo Bonucci put through his own net. Juventus drew level five minutes after the break when Marco Rossi scored an unfortunate own goal. Genoa restored their advantage on 57 minutes when Antonio Floro Flores found the net. Alessandro Matri hit back for Juventus on 63 minutes before Luca Toni came back to haunt his former club with the winner seven minutes from time.

Boost

Lecce boosted their survival hopes with an impressive 2-1 win at fellow strugglers Sampdoria. David Di Michele gave Lecce the lead on 39 minutes and Ruben Olivera doubled the advantage on 66 minutes. Massimo Maccarone pulled a goal back for Sampdoria on 69 minutes, but any hopes of getting anything from the game went up in smoke when Daniele Mannini was sent off three minutes later. Eight-man Cesena staged a stunning late comeback to earn an unlikely 2-2 draw at Palermo. Palermo looked set to be heading for all three points when Jasmin Kurtic (5) and Mauricio Pinilla (36) put them 2-0 up. Things got worse for Cesena when Steve Von Bergen (74) and Paolo Sammarco (77) were sent off in three second-half minutes. However, despite their numerical disavantage Marco Parolo pulled a goal back in the final minute and six minutes into stoppage time Emanuele Giaccherini grabbed an unlikely equaliser. There was still time left for Cesena to have a third man sent off with Alex Calderoni seeing red for the visitors eight minutes into stoppage time. Bari remain rooted to the bottom of the table after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Catania. Alessandro Gazzi gave Bari the lead on 33 minutes, but Maxi Lopez equalised for Catania a minute before the break. Brescia picked up a precious point in their battle against relegation with a 1-1 draw at Cagliari. Andrea Cossu fired Cagliari in front on 21 minutes only for Andrea Caracciolo to draw Brescia level just past the hour mark. Brescia ended the game with ten men after Eder was sent off in the final minute.

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