Inter back on top

Inter back on top

Inter Milan scored either side of half-time to claim a deserved 2-0 victory over Lazio on Sunday to climb back into first place in Serie A.

Walter Samuel put Inter ahead on the stroke of half-time after the Nerazzurri had wasted a hatful of chances to take an earlier lead.

Thiago Motta doubled Inter's lead with 20 minutes remaining as Jose Mourinho's side held on to move one step closer to their fifth straight Scudetto.

Victory allowed Inter to go two points clear of Lazio's city rivals Roma, who won on Saturday at Parma, with two games remaining.

A section of Lazio fans cheered both of Inter's goals as they damaged Roma's title chances.

Elsewhere, Sampdoria maintained their two-point lead in the race for the Serie A Champions League qualifying place with a comfortable 2-0 home win over relegated Livorno.

Antonio Cassano fired Samp into a fifth-minute lead and while they were comfortable throughout the points were not sealed until Reto Ziegler's rocket strike six minutes from the end.

It ensured the the hosts kept their advantage ahead of the chasing pack for fourth-place after nearest rivals Palermo were 2-1 winners at relegated Siena.

Goals from Edison Cavani and Fabrizio Miccoli in either half put the visitors in control, and Siena could not find a way back despite Emanuele Calaio's 80th-minute strike.

Sampdoria and Palermo clash next weekend.

Juventus' Champions League dream is over, though, after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Catania.

The home side took the lead in the first half through Matias Silvestre and denied the visitors with a spirited defensive display after the break.

Claudio Marchisio brought the sides level in the second half but the visitors could not make their dominance pay and they almost suffered a late blow when Maxi Lopez saw his effort kept out by Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Napoli forward Ezequiel Lavezzi struck late to seal a 2-1 win over Chievo in Verona that lifts his team into sixth place in Serie A and closer to Europa League football next season.

German Denis had put Napoli ahead on the stroke of half-time but Chievo striker Pablo Granoche levelled the score in the 75th minute.

Lavezzi ensured the visitors took all three points firing home a free-kick four minutes from time to move Walter Mazzarri's side above Juventus.

A late own goal sent Atalanta closer to relegation as they had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Bologna.

Tiberio Guarente gave the Bergamaschi - who went into this match five points adrift of 17th-placed Bologna and safety with three games remaining - real hope.

However, Federico Peluso put the ball into his own net with eight minutes remaining to leave Bortolo Mutti's side on the brink of relegation.

Cagliari and Udinese drew 2-2 on the day their places in the league were confirmed for another season.

Andrea Lazzari gave Cagliari the lead but two goals in as many minutes, from Antonio Di Natale and Alexis Sanchez, turned things around in the visitors' favour by the half-hour mark.

However, Jeda's equaliser before the hour mark kept the Sardinian side above Udinese, denying the visitors only a second away success of the season.

Genoa's slender hopes of qualifying for Europe next season were ended by Bari as they were thrashed 3-0 at the Stadio San Nicla to fall six points behind the top seven with two games remaining.

On Saturday, Roma had gone top thanks to their win at Parma.

Francesco Totti put the Giallorossi ahead in the fifth minute and Rodrigo Taddei doubled their lead 15 minutes from time.

Davide Lanzafame gave the home side hope in the 81st minute, but a late red card for Luis Jimenez dented their hopes of finding an equaliser and Roma held on for a win which takes them one point clear of the Nerazzurri, who face Lazio on Sunday night.

Ronaldinho inspired AC Milan to a 1-0 win over Fiorentina.

The Brazilian was in inspirational form, even if he only managed one goal, and that came from the penalty spot late in the game.

Milan ended the game with 10 men when Massimo Ambrosini was shown a red card three minutes from time but they held on.