Inter Milan controversially won away in Catania while cross-town rivals AC Milan were good enough to fend off Siena with Juventus, Roma and Sampdoria also claiming three points.

Inter Milan have re-established their eight-point cushion at the Serie A summit courtesy of a 2-0 triumph at Catania.

Roberto Mancini's team, whose lead over second-placed Roma was cut to five points when the Eternal City outfit beat Reggina 2-0 a day earlier, emerged victorious in Sicily thanks to two goals in the space of four second-half minutes from Esteban Cambiasso and David Suazo.

Juventus consolidated third spot with substitute Vincenzo Iaquinta coming off the bench to hit the decisive goal in a 2-1 win over his former club Udinese.

Iaquinta had been on the pitch just seconds when he scored with his first touch of the game in the 76th minute.

Earlier a Mauro Camoranesi bullet header had levelled matters on the hour-mark after Andrea Dossena had put the home side in front with just six minutes played.

AC Milan moved to within two points of fourth-placed Fiorentina, who had drawn 2-2 at Atalanta, courtesy of a 1-0 home win over Siena.

Substitute Alberto Paloschi struck the crucial goal 19 minutes into the second half, just moments after being introduced by Carlo Ancelotti.

Siena were reduced to 10 men eight minutes from time when Simone Vergassola saw red.

Two late goals from Gennaro Delvecchio and Daniele Franceschini inside the space of five minutes gave Sampdoria a 2-0 victory over Napoli to keep the Blucerchiati on course for a place in Europe next season.

A late equaliser from substitute striker Marco Di Vaio salvaged a point for 10-man Genoa in a 1-1 draw at relegation-threatened Livorno.

The home side led for the majority of the game thanks to Francesco Tavano's strike but Di Vaio earned a share of the spoils in the 82nd minute.

The hosts will rue conceding late on, particularly after Genoa were reduced to 10 men when Gleison Pinto dos Santos was sent off for a second yellow card in the 75th minute.

Torino's Aimo Diana and substitute David Di Michele conspired to condemn their former club Palermo to a 3-1 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico.

The home side had to come from behind to beat the European hopefuls with Amauri having given Palermo a half-time lead with a fantastic solo effort.

Diana pulled Toro level just before the hour-mark, and then Di Michele struck a goal either side of Amauri's sending-off to haul the hosts further clear of relegation trouble.

Ighli Vannucchi's solitary strike handed Empoli three vital points in their fight for survival as the Tuscan side beat Lazio.

The deserved win sees Alberto Malesani's side climb a place to 18th, just one point behind Parma and Siena, and heaps further pressure on Lazio coach Delio Rossi as the Biancocelesti's poor season continues.

The visitors' miserable afternoon was sealed in the 88th minute when Aleksandar Kolarov received his marching orders.

Parma remain perilously close to the drop zone after only managing a 1-1 draw against basement side Cagliari.

The Gialloblu are just a point and a place away from third-bottom Empoli after two goals in two minutes ensured a stalemate at the Stadio San Elia.

Jeda gave Cagliari a 34th-minute lead but no sooner had they restarted than Ferreira Reginaldo equalised for the visitors.

PA Sport

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