Italian Serie A Weekend Review
Inter Milan are seven points clear at the top of Serie A after their 0-0 draw at Napoli today.
Roma's emphatic victory over Palermo yesterday had seen them move to within six points of Jose Mourinho's side but Inter's efforts at Stadio San Paolo guided them a little further ahead.
Sulley Muntari hit the crossbar for Inter with a left-footed shot in the first half but they were grateful for a glaring miss by the hosts, German Denis missing an open goal after the ball had come back off the post.
However, it was the Nerazzurri's second consecutive draw and they are still looking for their first goal in Naples since 1997.
A disputed penalty allowed Juventus to win their first game under coach Alberto Zaccheroni as they came from behind to beat Genoa 3-2 as they moved into sixth.
Genoa went ahead with a goal from captain Marco Rossi in the 16th minute, but Amauri brought the Bianconeri level shortly before the break.
Alessandro Del Piero put the home team in front after an hour, but Rossi struck back immediately with an equaliser Genoa more than deserved.
However, the game was decided in the 78th minute by a penalty earned and converted by Del Piero, although doubts remain whether it should have been a spot-kick in the first place.
Cagliari boosted their hopes of sneaking into Europe with a comfortable victory over Bari.
Salvatore Masiello got Bari back into the game shortly after the break following first-half goals from Daniele Conti and a deflected Nene free-kick.
But the hosts immediately restored their two-goal cushion when the unfortunate Alessandro Gazzi headed into his own net.
Edy Reja enjoyed a dream start at the helm of Lazio after inspiring his new charges to a win at Parma which moved them out of the relegation zone.
After surviving a few nervy moments in the first half, they went ahead after 68 minutes through Guglielmo Stendardo.
Parma's hopes of getting back into it were derailed due to Luis Jimenez's dismissal and Lazio sealed just their second away win of the season when Mauro Zarate struck with two minutes to go.
Catania and Atalanta played out a goalless draw that did little to ease the relegation concerns of either club.
Atalanta had Gianpaolo Bellini sent off for a second yellow card with 16 minutes remaining, but in a match when goalmouth action was limited, the away side easily held out to claim a point.
A solitary Marco Di Vaio goal was enough to hand Bologna all the spoils in their relegation scrap at fellow strugglers Livorno.
Siena claimed a vital victory against Chievo to increase their slim hopes of avoiding the drop at Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi.
A late volley from Reginaldo was enough to secure the three points for Alberto Malesani's side, who started the game 10 points from safety, but the defeat adds to Chievo's own relegation worries.
Saturday night saw AS Roma moved immediately back up to third place in Serie A with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Palermo.
Having dropped down the standings after AC Milan beat Udinese on Friday, Roma wasted no time in taking the place back.
A Cesare Bovo own goal in the 33rd minute set them on their way to victory with a scoreline that was far more convincing than their performance at the Stadio Olimpico.
Julio Baptista added the second in the 53rd minute before Matteo Brighi got his name on the scoresheet 10 minutes later.
Fabrizio Miccoli reduced the arrears with a dubious penalty in the 80th minute but a stunning strike from John-Arne Riise three minutes later secured the win for Claudio Ranieri's in-form Giallorossi.
Sampdoria's fourth win in a row lifted them to fourth as they downed an out-of-sorts Fiorentina 2-0 tonight.
Franco Semioli put the Blucerchiati on their way to victory in the 16th minute and Giampaolo Pazzini sealed the win in the 40th minute with his first goal against his former club.
The Blucerchiati climbed above Palermo and Napoli, who host Inter Milan tomorrow, leaving Fiorentina languishing in 11th position and struggling for form ahead of a testing Champions League tie against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
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