Inter keeps in touching distance

Antonio Cassano converted from close range to put the host in front in the 28th minute and Rodrigo Palacio made the points safe five minutes from time.

The win moved the Nerazzurri back to within four points of Juventus and just one behind second-placed Napoli.

Fiorentina was held to a 1-1 draw at struggling Chievo in an end-to-end game in which both sides wasted chances to win.

Cyril Thereau gave Chievo the lead in the 17th minute, but Gonzalo Rodriguez equalised less than a minute later.

Luca Toni hit a post for Fiorentina just before half-time, but La Viola could not find a winner.

Maicosuel scored the winner early in the second half as 10-man Udinese claimed a 1-0 win at home to Pescara.

The host looked to be up against it when it had Danilo sent off for a second yellow card after half an hour, but it dug in and won it when Maicosuel punished a mistake from Pescara midfielder Manuele Blasi.

Parma got a much-needed 2-1 victory over the 10 men of Sampdoria to move away from the relegation zone.

An incident late in the first-half handed Parma the initiative as goalkeeper Sergio Romero was sent off for a foul on Jonathan Biabiany inside the area and Amauri dispatched the penalty.

Amauri doubled the lead early in the second-half and, although Samp was handed a route back into the match with an Eder penalty nine minutes from time, Parma hung on.

Atalanta came from behind to beat fellow struggler Siena 2-1 at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia, leaving its opponent six points behind it at the bottom of the standings.

Giacomo Bonaventura's goal eight minutes from time settled the match after Luca Cigarini had immediately cancelled out Reginaldo's opener on the hour mark.

Siena also had Carlos Carmona sent off from the bench for complaining about a penalty which was not given.

Cagliari was a 1-0 winner over Bologna thanks to Radja Nainggolan's placed finish on the hour, while Palermo and Torino drew 0-0.