Milan's defeat by Roma last night gave hope to the chasing pack, and Edinson Cavani scored a second-half stoppage-time winner for the second game in a row as Napoli beat Lecce 1-0.

Cavani's goal, which followed his match-winner against Steaua Bucharest in midweek which sent Napoli through to the next round of the Europa League, put the Naples side in second place - level on 33 points with Lazio.

Lecce were seconds away from earning a valuable point in their battle against the drop but instead fell into the bottom three in their last game before the Christmas break.

Christian Zapata's late own goal gave Lazio a 3-2 win over Udinese and allowed Edoardo Reja's side to keep the pressure on Milan.

Hernanes put hosts Lazio ahead in the second minute, but Alexis Sanchez equalised five minutes after the break.

Giuseppe Biava restored Lazio's lead immediately, but German Denis replied with his first touch of the game 10 minutes later.

With two minutes remaining, Zapata headed a corner into his own goal while under pressure from Libor Kozak to give Lazio maximum points.

Juventus failed to join Napoli and Lazio on 33 points as they were pegged back to a 1-1 draw by Chievo.

Sergio Pellissier's stoppage-time equaliser cancelled out Fabio Quagliarella's 30th-minute overhead kick.

Juventus had young midfielder Manuel Giandonato dismissed for a professional foul seven minutes into the second half but had looked like holding on.

Juventus coach Luigi Del Neri said: "We hit the post twice, we played down to 10 men for 45 minutes after Manuel Giandonato's sending-off. But my players have done their duty, they fought hard and it's a pity that we conceded a goal in the 92nd minute.

"We deserved much more from this game and the result leaves us a little bit bitter."

Bottom-of-the-table Bari frustrated sixth-placed Palermo by holding them 1-1 at the Stadio San Nicola despite playing for much of the game with only 10 men.

Bari's Marco Rossi was red-carded after just over half an hour, and Josip Ilicic put Palermo in front in first-half stoppage time.

But Bari levelled from the penalty spot through Andrea Masiello early in the second half and their debutant goalkeeper Daniele Padelli kept Palermo at bay thereafter.

Maxi Lopez got the only goal in the 33rd minute as Catania defeated Brescia 1-0 to put six points between themselves and their opponents, who occupy the last safe position in the table.

Parma and Bologna cancelled each other out in a goalless draw.

Milan's defeat by Roma last night gave hope to the chasing pack, and Edinson Cavani scored a second-half stoppage-time winner for the second game in a row as Napoli beat Lecce 1-0.

Cavani's goal, which followed his match-winner against Steaua Bucharest in midweek which sent Napoli through to the next round of the Europa League, put the Naples side in second place - level on 33 points with Lazio.

Lecce were seconds away from earning a valuable point in their battle against the drop but instead fell into the bottom three in their last game before the Christmas break.

Christian Zapata's late own goal gave Lazio a 3-2 win over Udinese and allowed Edoardo Reja's side to keep the pressure on Milan.

Hernanes put hosts Lazio ahead in the second minute, but Alexis Sanchez equalised five minutes after the break.

Giuseppe Biava restored Lazio's lead immediately, but German Denis replied with his first touch of the game 10 minutes later.

With two minutes remaining, Zapata headed a corner into his own goal while under pressure from Libor Kozak to give Lazio maximum points.

Juventus failed to join Napoli and Lazio on 33 points as they were pegged back to a 1-1 draw by Chievo.

Sergio Pellissier's stoppage-time equaliser cancelled out Fabio Quagliarella's 30th-minute overhead kick.

Juventus had young midfielder Manuel Giandonato dismissed for a professional foul seven minutes into the second half but had looked like holding on.

Juventus coach Luigi Del Neri said: "We hit the post twice, we played down to 10 men for 45 minutes after Manuel Giandonato's sending-off. But my players have done their duty, they fought hard and it's a pity that we conceded a goal in the 92nd minute.

"We deserved much more from this game and the result leaves us a little bit bitter."

Bottom-of-the-table Bari frustrated sixth-placed Palermo by holding them 1-1 at the Stadio San Nicola despite playing for much of the game with only 10 men.

Bari's Marco Rossi was red-carded after just over half an hour, and Josip Ilicic put Palermo in front in first-half stoppage time.

But Bari levelled from the penalty spot through Andrea Masiello early in the second half and their debutant goalkeeper Daniele Padelli kept Palermo at bay thereafter.

Maxi Lopez got the only goal in the 33rd minute as Catania defeated Brescia 1-0 to put six points between themselves and their opponents, who occupy the last safe position in the table.

Parma and Bologna cancelled each other out in a goalless draw.