AC Milan have been gifted another three points courtesy of poor refereeing for the second consecutive game catapulting them into first place on the Serie A ladder as Inter Milan and Juventus also won.

German Denis' late own goal has gifted AC Milan a 1-0 victory at home to Napoli and sent them top of Serie A.

With Milan's Inzaghi in an offside position, Denis headed Ronaldinho's free-kick into his own net with three minutes remaining - and just two minutes after Milan were awarded a dubious penalty in which Gennaro Iezzo saved from Kaka.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for Napoli who had looked like holding on for a point despite playing the entire second half with 10 men after the 44th-minute sending off of Maggio and Hamsik and Santacroce going off injured.

After losing their opening two games of the season, Milan have now won their last four - and conceded just one goal in their last six - to lead the standings by a point.

Napoli slipped to fourth, two points behind their opponents, with the loss.

Udinese are second, ahead of Inter Milan on goal difference, after a fine performance by goalkeeper Samir Handanovic helped them earn a 2-2 draw against Genoa at the Stadio Friuli.

The hosts made the perfect start when Gaetano D'Agostino fired them in front from the penalty spot in the fourth minute.

Handanovic was in superb form to keep Genoa at bay, but was finally beaten shortly after the hour-mark by Diego Milito's spot-kick and the visitors took the lead three minutes later thanks to substitute Giuseppe Sculli.

However, a Fabio Quagliarella volley in the 78th minute snatched a draw for Udinese.

Ivan Cordoba's late winner had given Inter a 3-2 win at Reggina a day earlier.

Substitute Pasquale Foggia struck a late winner as Lazio claimed a 1-0 success over Catania to move up to fifth.

Foggia converted a pass from Mauro Zarate with five minutes remaining as Lazio's incessant pressure finally told.

It had looked like turning into a frustrating afternoon for the Rome-based side as keeper Albano Bizzarri, aided by some last-ditch defending, kept them at bay.

Juventus are sixth after heaping yet more misery on beleaguered Roma with a 2-0 victory on Saturday (Sunday morning AEDT).

Roma, last season's runners-up, are just one place and one point above the bottom three.

Elsewhere, Cagliari romped to a 5-1 win over Bologna thanks to a brace apiece from Robert Acquafresca and Neves Capucho Jeda.

The Sardinians responded with a flurry of second-half goals after going a goal down to Marco Di Vaio's 18th-minute opener.

Acquafresca equalised on the stroke of half-time and Daniele Conti put Cagliari ahead three minutes into the second half, before Acquafresca again and a Jeda double sealed an emphatic win.

Palermo claimed a 3-0 win over Chievo, Fabrizio Miccoli with a penalty, Simon Kjaer and Edison Cavani settling the contest by half-time.

The hosts had Socceroos midfielder Mark Bresciano dismissed in the 48th minute, but it did little to help Chievo, who remain in the bottom three.

Houssine Kharja scored 14 minutes from time to earn Siena a 1-0 win over Tuscan rivals Fiorentina and propel them away from the relegation zone.

Claudio Bellucci's 85th-minute effort gave Sampdoria a 1-0 win over Torino, who had earlier had a goal of their own ruled out.

Atalanta held Lecce to a goalless draw despite having Jaime Valdes sent off midway through the second half.

PA Sport

Italian Serie A Standings after Round 10