Marcelo Zalayeta struck 17 minutes from time to earn Napoli a shock 1-0 win over Inter Milan, their first victory under Roberto Donadoni.
Inter boss Jose Mourinho saw his side’s lead over AC Milan cut to seven points with five games remaining after their earlier victory over Palermo at the San Siro. Inter dominated the first half and Napoli keeper Nicolas Navarro tipped away Walter Samuel’s header and kept out Mario Balotelli’s long-range effort.
Napoli came more into the game after the break and Ezequel Lavezzi laid on the winner beating two Inter defenders before setting up Zalayeta who beat Julio Cesar with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Earlier AC Milan had beaten 10-man Palermo 3-0 to move two points clear of third-placed Juventus. A penalty from Kaka and a header from Filippo Inzaghi ensured Milan were already firmly in control before Cesare Bovo received his marching orders three minutes into the second half. Kaka, who seemed back to his best after an injury-plagued few months, slotted home another penalty eight minutes later to seal the victory.
Juventus twice came from behind to deny Reggina a much-needed win in their fight against the drop but a 2-2 draw will have done little to ease the pressure on boss Claudio Ranieri. Juve were knocked out of the Coppa Italia in midweek and a haul of three points from four games in Serie A has all but ended their title hopes. Antonino Barilla opened the scoring for the hosts, who are now six points from safety at the foot of the table.
Alessandro Del Piero levelled from the spot three minutes after the break, Emil Hallfredsson restored Reggina’s lead and Cristiano Zanetti equalised in the 73rd minute.
Jose Leonardo Talamonti ended Atalanta’s run of four games without a win with the only goal of the game away to former club Lazio. Talamonti broke the deadlock in the 24th minute at the Stadio Olimpico latching onto Luca Cigarini’s cross to beat Fernando Muslera with a close-range header.
Giuseppe Papadopulo celebrated his first win in charge of Bologna as the relegation-threatened club picked up a crucial three points against high-flying Genoa courtesy of goals from Marco Di Vaio (15) and Claudio Terzi (25).
Antonio Cassano grabbed an equaliser four minutes from time for Sampdoria in a 3-3 draw with Cagliari. Samp led 2-0 at half-time thanks to Guido Marilungo’s first goals in professional football. Alessandro Matri and Robert Acquafresca brought the Sardinians level and Daniele Conti edged them ahead with 10 minutes remaining only for Cassano to salvage a point for Samp by volleying home Marco Padalino’s cross.
Rolando Bianchi’s 10th-minute strike secured a 1-0 win for Torino over Siena. Bianchi, who had already rattled the crossbar, beat the offside trap to tap in Roberto Stellone’s cross.
First-half goals from Gianni Munari (11) and Simone Tiribocchi (15) set Lecce on their way to a 2-1 win over Catania and three vital points in their battle to avoid relegation from Serie A at the Stadio Via del Mare. Jorge Martinez pulled a goal back for the visitors on the half hour.
