Brazilian Pato nodded home the first for Milan in the 65th minute and the visitors' task was made all the more difficult shortly after that when goalkeeper Rubinho was dismissed.

The European champions made good use of their numerical advantage as Pato struck again eight minutes from time to help them climb into seventh place - one point behind Sampdoria, who triumphed 1-0 win over Siena on Saturday.

Inter's eight-match winning streak in Serie A was brought to an end with a 0-0 draw in Udine.

However, coach Roberto Mancini will be relieved his men kept their unbeaten league record intact after playing for 70 minutes with 10 men following the dismissal of Cesar at Stadio Friuli.

Despite the result, Inter hold a five-point cushion over Roma - who beat Palermo 1-0 on Saturday - at the top of the standings.

Juventus kept their faint title hopes alive on Sunday evening after bringing to an end 10-man Livorno's fine unbeaten run with a 3-1 away win.

David Trezeguet bagged a brace either side of an Alessandro Del Piero strike as the Bianconeri bounced back from successive draws to close the gap on Inter to 10 points.

Erjon Bogdani pulled a goal back for the visitors, who had Daniele De Vezze sent off early in the second half as they tasted defeat for the first time since October.

Fiorentina left it late to maintain their push for Champions League qualification with a 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Empoli.

Adrian Mutu and Giampaolo Pazzini struck in the final four minutes as La Viola recorded their fifth league win in a row to move four points clear of fifth-placed Udinese.

Rolando Bianchi endured an ignominious debut for Lazio as he was sent off five minutes after coming on in the second half of the Roman club's scoreless draw with Torino.

Torino also played with a man down after losing Simone Barone on the stroke of half-time, but the Biancoceleste were not able to capitalise on the short time they had an extra player on the pitch.

Bianchi, who moved on loan to Lazio from Manchester City earlier this week, started on the bench but was introduced on the hour mark only to earn two yellow cards in five minutes.

The result leaves Lazio in 14th place, three points clear of the drop zone, while Torino are 16th in the standings.

Atalanta slipped to eighth after a second-half fightback from Reggina saw them come from 2-0 down to earn a point in Bergamo.

Goals from Claudio Rivalta and Antonio Langella had put the home side in command before Luca Vigiani and Edgar Baretto struck to earn a vital point for Reggina, who climb out of the relegation places as a result.

Napoli remain 11th despite going down 2-1 at bottom side Cagliari, who ended a run of six defeats with two goals deep in stoppage time to secure victory.

Already missing star midfielder Manuele Blasi, Cagliari looked like making it seven straight losses when they fell behind to Marek Hamsik's 58th-minute opener.

But Alessandro Matri levelled in the 93rd minute with a spectacular long-range effort and Daniele Conti headed in the winner a minute later.

Catania and Parma battled out a disappointing goalless stalemate which does little to boost either side's flagging season.

The result leaves both teams in the bottom half of the Serie A standings, with Catania 12th on 23 points and Parma three places and four points worse off.