Jose Mourinho's team left it late to beat a strong Fiorentina at the San Siro, with Diego Milito's penalty five minutes from time earning three points for the champions.

Juve lost ground on the leaders on the back of a 2-0 loss at Cagliari - their second away defeat of the Serie A season.

Nene opened the scoring after half an hour for Cagliari with substitute Alessandro Matri claiming the clincher at the death as the hosts moved up to seventh.

Those two results saw Inter open up an eight-point cushion at the summit, but that was reduced to seven when Milan triumphed 2-0 at lowly Catania in the evening kick-off to leapfrog Juventus into second.

Holland striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar was the hero for the Rossoneri with two goals on the stroke of full-time to deny their second-bottom hosts what would have been only their 10th point of the campaign.

Elsewhere, Roma came from behind to win 2-1 at Atalanta and stretch their unbeaten run to five matches.

The struggling hosts took a shock lead through Fabio Ceravolo but Mirko Vucinic equalised just before half-time and Simone Perrotta grabbed the winner 19 minutes into the second period for Claudio Ranieri's side.

Lazio's run without a Serie A win continued as they were held to a goalless draw by fellow strugglers Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico.

Nicola Amoruso's late penalty earned fifth-placed Parma a 1-1 draw at home to Napoli as their strong showing following last season's promotion continued.

The visitors had led through German Denis' first-half strike but a foul by Salvatore Aronica on Davide Lanzafame allowed Amoruso to level matters with four minutes remaining.

Substitute Giuseppe Greco completed a rousing second-half fightback from Bari with a stoppage-time winner in their clash with bottom club Siena.

The visitors took the lead in just the third minute through Simone Vergassola and defended their slender advantage for 75 minutes before Andrea Masiello's equaliser.

That set the scene for Greco to convert fellow replacement Filippo Antonelli's 92nd-minute cross and ensure Siena remain rooted on six points.

New Palermo coach Delio Rossi got a reminder of the task in front of him as he lost his first Serie A match 1-0 at Chievo.

Elvis Abbruscato got the only goal after 56 minutes to settle a game in which Palermo created chances without truly worrying Chievo.

A disappointing afternoon for the visitors was completed in the 90th minute when Fabio Liverani was sent off for a second bookable offence.