Inter Milan have got the better of great rivals AC Milan to ensure they take a seven-point lead at the top of the Serie A table into the Christmas break.

Andrea Pirlo put Milan ahead after 18 minutes at the San Siro, but Julio Cruz replied on 36 minutes.

Esteban Cambiasso then sealed the 2-1 win in the 63rd minute to leave Inter with a healthy advantage over nearest challengers Roma.

Roma had posted a 2-0 win over Sampdoria a day earlier thanks to a Francesco Totti double to maintain their push for the Scudetto, while Juventus complete the top three after they claimed a 2-0 success over Siena.

Hasan Salihamidzic gave the Turin giants the lead on the half-hour mark with David Trezeguet adding the second after 59 minutes.

Udinese lost ground on the leading trio after conceding a last-minute goal in a 2-2 draw against Empoli.

Antonio Di Natale's 85th-minute strike looked to have earned the Udine outfit all three points, after Empoli's Andrea Raggi had earlier cancelled out Andrea Dossena's opener.

But Lino Marzoratti popped up in the dying seconds to snatch a point for Empoli, who also had Francesco Pratali sent off.

Fiorentina gave the performance of the day with a 5-1 hammering of basement boys Cagliari, who head into the winter break three points adrift of second-bottom Reggina.

Although Michele Fini pulled Cagliari level after Riccardo Montolivo's early strike, the Viola soon took control and two goals apiece from Adrian Mutu - one from the penalty spot - and Mario Santana earned them the spoils.

Nine-man Lazio battled out a 2-2 draw with Palermo despite red cards for Sebastiano Siviglia and Lorenzo De Silvestri.

The hosts took a two-goal lead thanks to Fabio Simplicio and Amauri, but Fabio Firmani and Igli Tare replied for the Roman club.

A late goal from Marek Hamsik earned Napoli a 1-1 draw against Torino, for whom Alessandro Rosina scored and Vince Grella was red-carded.

Livorno and Atalanta also played out a 1-1 stalemate with Fernando Tissone restoring parity after Fabio Galante's opener for the hosts.

And a hat-trick from Luca Vigiano helped struggling Reggina on their way to a 3-1 triumph over Catania.

Manuel Vargas was on target for the visitors, who finished the match with 10 men following the dismissal of Gennaro Sardo.

PA Sport

Serie A Table after Round 17