Jose Mourinho's men were a long way from their fluent best, but second-half strikes from Diego Milito and Maicon sealed a win which enabled them to take full advantage of second-placed Juventus' surprise setback at home to Napoli on Saturday night.

Livorno held their own for the most part, but defeat sees them remain in the relegation zone.

Third-placed Sampdoria were fortunate to escape with a goalless draw at home to Bari.

Paolo Barreto missed a last-gasp penalty for the visitors - while, deep into stoppage time, Leonardo Bonucci saw a goal wrongly ruled out for offside.

Fiorentina jumped up four places to fifth with a 3-1 victory at home to Catania.

Even the disadvantage of having to play the second half with 10 men - following captain Dario Dainelli's 44th-minute sending-off for two bookings - made no difference against opponents who were also one down from just before the hour mark when they had left-back Ciro Capuano dismissed.

A goal in each half from Marco Marchionni and Alberto Gilardino's late strike did the trick for Fiorentina - Giuseppe Mascara's 48th-minute leveller raising the visitors' hopes only briefly.

Genoa were held to a goalless draw at Palermo, while two goals from Nene and a penalty from Alessandro Matri enabled Cagliari to ease past visiting Atalanta 3-0.

Roma came from behind to beat Bologna 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico.

Adailton gave the visitors a 32nd-minute lead, but Mirko Vucinic equalised with his first Serie A goal of the campaign three minutes later.

Simone Perrotta then struck for the first time in the league this season in the 53rd minute to hand Roma all three points.

Chievo came from a goal down to draw 1-1 at home to Udinese.

Striker Antonio Floro Flores put Udinese ahead before being forced off by injury in the first half. But Chievo were the better side throughout, and defender Mario Yepes equalised with 20 minutes remaining.

Lazio could only manage a 1-1 draw away to fellow strugglers Siena.

The Biancoceleste, without a win in the league since August 30, took the lead after only eight minutes but were pegged back in the first half by Serie A's bottom side.

Stefano Mauri gave the visitors the lead, but Massimo Maccarone earned his side a share of the points just after the half-hour.