Inter Milan keeps on marching

Inter Milan keeps on marching

Samuel Eto'o's first-half goal earned Inter Milan a narrow 1-0 win over Lazio and ensured the Nerazzurri ended the year with an eight-point lead at the top of the Serie A table.

The Cameroon international struck in the 14th minute to enable Jose Mourinho's side to return to winning ways.

The triumph gave Inter a comfortable cushion over second-placed AC Milan, whose game at Fiorentina on Saturday was postponed due to bad weather.

Juventus crashed to their third consecutive defeat on Sunday to leave coach Ciro Ferrara under severe pressure after a 2-1 loss at home to Catania.

The Sicilians picked up their first win over Juventus in more than 45 years thanks to a penalty from Jorge Martinez midway through the first half and a winner from Mariano Izco three minutes from time.

Hasan Salihamidzic had given Juve some hope in the 66th minute, but it was not enough to prevent another defeat for the Bianconeri.

With temperatures below freezing, the reception the Juve team received from their own fans was equally frosty - the team bus was confronted by angry fans who threw eggs and fireworks, while the hardcore fans behind one of the goals turned their backs on the team at the start of the game.

Roma enhanced their prospects of a Champions League place with a 2-0 victory over top-four rivals Parma at the Stadio Olimpico.

Nicolas Burdisso scored early in the second half before Matteo Brighi added a second late on to lift the Giallorossi above Parma on goal difference and ensure a positive end to 2009 for Claudio Ranieri's side.

Parma ended the game with 10 men after Massimo Paci was sent off for a second bookable offence three minutes from time.

Napoli's impressive run of results continued as they ended the year in sixth place thanks to a comfortable 2-0 victory over in-form Chievo.

The Partenopei got off to the perfect start when Marek Hamsik fired them into an early lead from the spot after German Denis had been fouled by Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino.

And Fabio Quagliarella secured all the points three minutes from time.

Palermo maintained their impressive form under new coach Delio Rossi with a narrow 1-0 win over Siena that propelled them to the verge of the European places in Serie A.

The Sicilian giants went into their final match before the winter break fresh from last weekend's 2-0 victory away at AC Milan.

And Edison Cavani netted the winner at La Favorita to maintain their fine form, leaving Siena bottom after Catania's victory over Juventus.

Livorno slowed Sampdoria's charge for European football and picked up three vital points for themselves as they came from behind to win 3-1 at the Armando Picchi Stadium.

Antonio Cassano had put Sampdoria ahead after 15 minutes, but Nelson Rivas equalised six minutes before the break and Tomas Danilevicius had Livorno ahead early in the second half.

Samp piled forward in a desperate bid to end a barren run away from home that stretches back to September 13, but instead it was Danilevicius who sealed victory with an injury-time strike.

The games between Genoa and Bari and Udinese and Cagliari fell foul of the cold snap.

AC Milan's hopes of clawing some ground back on leaders Inter before the end of the year were hit on Saturday by the postponement of their match at Fiorentina.

Milan are five points behind their city rivals following a run of four wins in five matches, with this weekend's programme the final round of fixtures before the league breaks up for Christmas.

Leonardo's men had been hoping to further close that gap and also ensure they would head into the winter break in second place, but heavy snow at the Stadio Artemio Franchi saw the fixture in Florence called off.

Saturday's other scheduled match between Bologna and Atalanta was also called off because of the snow and freezing temperatures which have swept across Europe.

That clash at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara was initially rearranged for Sunday with kick-off at 1300 local time - but even that fell foul of the weather.