Inter Milan have taken a major step towards retaining their Serie A title with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Torino as Napoli overcame an eight-man Parma 2-1 at Stadio Tardini.

Julio Cruz scored the only goal of the game in the 30th minute, heading Mario Balotelli's corner past Alberto Fontana from point-blank range.

The win moved Roberto Mancini's men six points clear of second-placed Roma with four games remaining.

AC Milan are still in the hunt for fourth spot after a resounding 5-1 victory over relegation-threatened Reggina.

A Kaka hat-trick that included two first-half penalties and late strikes from Filippo Inzaghi and Alexandre Pato gave Milan the points.

Edgar Barreto scored an outstanding consolation for the visitors, who slipped to the bottom of the table on goal difference.

Alessandro Del Piero also helped himself to a treble and set up the opener for Nicola Legrottaglie as Juventus romped to a 4-0 away at Atalanta which moves them to within five points of Roma.

Ten-man Genoa kept alive their hopes of claiming a place in Europe next season with a 1-0 win at Siena.

Former Siena player Abdoulay Konko netted the only goal of the game in the 24th minute, while the visitors held out despite the sending off of Gaetano De Rosa 10 minutes before the interval.

Genoa are now eight points off a UEFA Cup berth.

Sampdoria enjoyed a resounding 3-0 triumph over Udinese to tighten their grip on a European place.

Antonio Cassano and Claudio Bellucci put them two goals ahead at half-time before Cassano added a second from the penalty spot after the break.

Sampdoria are now four points clear of their opponents in the race for sixth place.

Napoli came from behind to win 2-1 away at Parma in a bad-tempered match which saw the hosts end the game with just eight men.

Igor Budan gave relegation-threatened Parma a valuable lead from the spot in the 22nd minute, but McDonald Mariga was then sent off for conceding a penalty which was duly dispatched by Maurizio Domizzi.

Giulio Falcone and Andrea Gasbarroni were dismissed after the break as Parma's disciplinary problems mounted.

Napoli midfielder Walter Gargano was also sent off for his part in the fight with Falcone in the 75th minute, while visiting boss Edoardo Reja was sent from the bench for demanding Gasbarroni's dismissal.

All those red cards came after Mariano Bogliacino's 71st-minute winner.

Catania's hopes of avoiding relegation received a boost as they claimed a 1-0 victory over nine-man Lazio.

Gionatha Spinesi scored the winner from the penalty spot after Luciano Zauri had been shown his second yellow card in as many minutes for hauling down Giuseppe Mascara.

Ousmane Dabo was also sent off for his protestations after he was penalised for a foul on.

Catania are joined five points clear of the drop zone by Cagliari, who claimed a 2-0 win at lowly Empoli despite finishing the game with nine men.

A goal in each half from Robert Acquafresca and Michele Fini secured the win for the Sardinians, who could even afford to have both Fini, for whipping his shirt off in celebration, and Francesco Pisano sent off.

Serie A Table after Round 34

PA Sport