Inter's defeat to Roma on Saturday night intensified the battle for league honours, with Roma consequently moving to within a point of the top of the table.

Milan could have joined Roma on 62 points with seven games remaining but were left frustrated. Marco Borriello put them ahead at the San Siro after 19 minutes, converting a penalty.

However lowly Lazio levelled in the 32nd minute when Stephan Lichtsteiner scored to earn them a point in their battle against relegation.

Juventus put back-to-back league defeats by Sampdoria and Napoli behind them, beating Atalanta 2-1 with goals from Alessandro Del Piero and Felipe Melo. Melo headed the 82nd-minute winner from Del Piero's cross after former Juventus striker Nicola Amoruso had equalised before the break for the visitors.

Juventus stand sixth in the table, level on points but with an inferior goal difference to Napoli who beat Catania 1-0 thanks to a second-half strike from captain Paolo Cannavaro.

Sampdoria slipped from fifth to seventh place after a 1-1 home draw against Cagliari, but they too are on the same points mark as Napoli. Stefano Guberti gave Sampdoria the lead early in the second half but Nene equalised with nine minutes remaining before being sent off in stoppage-time for kicking out at Andrea Poli.

Fiorentina demolished struggling Udinese 4-1 in Florence, thanks to goals from Juan Vargas, Alberto Gilardino, Mario Santana ans Stevan Jovetic. Simone Pepe netted for Udinese.

Bottom-of-the-table Livorno came from behind to draw 1-1 at home against Bari, with Francesco Tavano driving in an equaliser with five minutes remaining. Riccardo Allegretti had put visitors Bari ahead in the 24th minute.

Siena remain just one point better off than Livorno after a goalless draw at home against Genoa, while mid-table rivals Chievo and Parma were also unable to find the net in their stalemate in Verona.