Former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira gave the visitors the lead midway through the first half with a powerful header before Mario Balotelli made the points safe 16 minutes from time.

In stoppage time, Atalanta's Cristiano Doni was sent off for dissent.

Palermo won a dramatic game 3-2 against Juventus thanks to a last-gasp wonder goal from Mattia Cassani.

Amauri, linked with a summer move to the Premier League, scored twice in the first half although after the interval Alessandro Del Piero drew Juve level with two goals only for Cassani to pounce in the 89th minute.

Fiorentina comfortably beat relegation battlers Reggina 2-0 to maintain a firm grip on fourth place thanks to goals either side of the break from Giampaolo Pazzini and former Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu.

Reggina are now rock-bottom of the table after Empoli beat Torino 1-0 while new Catania coach Walter Zenga got off to the perfect start in Serie A with a 3-0 victory over Napoli.

In-form Siena continued their surge up the table by holding high-flying Udinese to a 1-1 draw while Sampdoria made it five wins in their last six matches to remain in the race for the last Champions League qualifying spot after beating struggling Livorno 2-0 at home.

Parma slipped closer to the relegation zone despite earning a point at home in a 2-2 draw with Lazio, for whom on-loan Manchester City Rolando Bianchi scored.