The Nerazzurri came in for heavy criticism following their European exit at the hands of Manchester United but they showed they are still the team to beat domestically with a 2-0 defeat of fifth-placed Fiorentina at the San Siro.

Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic grabbed both goals, the opener coming after 11 minutes and his second in the closing stages.

Inter re-established their seven-point lead which was reduced to four yesterday by Juventus' 4-1 thrashing of Bologna.

Third-placed AC Milan romped to a 5-1 win at Siena - Andrea Pirlo's sixth-minute penalty followed by two goals apiece from Filippo Inzaghi and Alexandre Pato.

Massimo Maccarone netted Siena's consolation.

Milan's joy at the emphatic win was tempered, however, by goalkeeper Christian Abbiati sustaining a knee injury which may mean he will miss the rest of the season.

Julio Baptista earned 10-man Roma a point against Sampdoria to keep them in the hunt for fourth spot.

Baptista put Roma in front in the seventh minute, but Giampaolo Pazzini continued his excellent recent form to turn the game around with goals in the 25th and 43rd minutes.

Roma lost Marco Motta to a second yellow card after 62 minutes, but levelled with a penalty from Baptista with 20 minutes to go.

Gigi De Canio's spell in charge of Lecce got off to a nightmare start as his new team were thrashed 5-2 at Palermo.

Edison Cavani's penalty gave Palermo an 11th-minute lead but a Simone Tiribocchi brace either side of Fabio Simplicio's strike saw the Serie A strugglers hold their own.

However, Fabrizio Miccoli put the hosts in front for the third time four minutes from half-time before Simon Kjaer and Cavani clinched the result after the break.

Lazio dropped to eighth after suffering a surprise 3-0 defeat at home to Chievo, who moved out of the bottom three as a result.

Erjon Bogdani and Sergio Pellissier (two) netted for the visitors with Lazio's miserable afternoon compounded by the dismissal of Aleksander Kolarov midway through the second half.

Torino slipped into the relegation zone after going down to two Sergio Floccari goals at Atalanta while rock-bottom Reggina could only manage a 1-1 draw against Napoli.

Bernardo Corradi put Reggina in front but Napoli, under new coach Roberto Donadoni for the first time, levelled through Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Udinese and Catania remain in mid-table following a 1-1 draw in Udine.

Giuseppe Mascara put Catania ahead but Fabio Quagliarella equalised with 19 minutes to go.