Inter return to top as Udinese hold Roma

Inter Milan returned to the top of Italy's Serie A on Sunday when they beat Parma 2-0 and AS Roma were held to a 1-1 draw at Udinese.

An early own goal by Parma's Nestor Sensini and a long-range strike from Christian Vieri five minutes from time put Inter a point ahead of last season's champions.

Gabriel Batistuta grabbed an 83rd-minute equaliser for Roma after David Di Michele had given Udinese a first-half lead.

But Fabio Capello's side had goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli to thank after he saved a Roberto Muzzi penalty three minutes from the end.

France striker David Trezeguet scored twice as third-placed Juventus beat Atalanta 3-0 and under-fire Lazio bounced back to form by crushing Perugia 5-0.

Lamberto Zauli grabbed two goals in Bologna's 3-1 win over Chievo, who missed a penalty through Christian Manfredini and had defender Lorenzo D'Anna sent off.

Fifth-placed AC Milan are now nine points behind Inter in the standings after a 1-1 draw at Fiorentina, with Brazilian Adriano, on loan to Fiorentina from Inter, grabbing a last-minute equaliser.

ATTACKING LINE-UP

There was no mistaking Inter's intent as they fielded an attacking line-up with Uruguayan Alvaro Recoba and Portugal's Sergio Conceicao on the flanks providing the ammunition for a strike pairing of Vieri and Mohammed Kallon.

The strategy paid dividends after just four minutes when Recoba whipped over a fine cross from the left and, after Vieri's shot was blocked, Kallon's effort bounced in off helpless Argentine defender Sensini.

Inter dominated throughout but it was not until the final stages that they made sure of the three points when Vieri unleashed a shot from 25 metres which gave Parma's former Inter goalkeeper Sebastien Frey no chance.

If Inter coach Hector Cuper was pleased with another convincing display from his side, he was even happier when he heard the result from Udine.

Roma fell behind four minutes after the break when Colombian Gonzalo Martinez fed Di Michele, who showed great composure to round Antonioli and slot the ball home.

Italy striker Vincenzo Montella, making a substitute appearance after nearly three months out with a knee injury, set up Batistuta for Roma's equaliser, the Argentine making no mistake from close range.

But Udine missed a great chance to claim a surprise win when Roma defender Jonathan Zebina brought down Di Michele but Antonioli pulled off a fine save to keep out Muzzi's spotkick and leave Roma with a point.

JOINT-TOP SCORER

Juve's Trezeguet is now joint-top scorer in Serie A, locked together with Piacenza's Dario Hubner and Vieri on 13 goals after his double kept the Turin side in touch with the leaders.

Midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi put Juventus ahead in the 34th minute with a long-range lob which beat stranded Atalanta keeper Massimo Taibi.

Five minutes later, Trezeguet doubled Juve's advantage from close range after good work by Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved.

Trezeguet claimed his second in the 73rd minute when his low shot was blocked by Taibi's feet but the former Monaco striker pounced to blast in the loose ball.

Milan are in danger of losing touch with the leaders after they allowed home side Fiorentina back into the game to steal a late point.

Spanish striker Jose Mari put Milan ahead seven minutes after the restart with a fine, glancing header from a Serginho cross.

Milan then missed a great chance to seal the victory when Andriy Shevchenko saw a 70th-minute penalty saved by Fiorentina's Austrian keeper Alex Manninger.

Five minutes later, Milan had midfielder Gennaro Gattuso sent off for a second bookable offence.

The 10 men managed to hold out until the final minute when Adriano ran on to a pass from Argentine Ezequiel, shrugged off a challenge from Alessandro Costacurta and drove home a left-foot shot.

JEERING SUPPORTERS

Lazio's players entered the Olympic stadium to whistles and jeers from their supporters who have clearly turned against the team after the midweek Italian Cup exit at the hands of AC Milan.

But goals from Simone Inzaghi, Claudio Lopez, Stefano Fiore, Dejan Stankovic and Paolo Negro gave Alberto Zaccheroni's seventh-placed side a morale-boosting victory.

A fine first-half goal from Massimo Oddo sealed Verona's 1-0 win over bottom-club Venezia, while Piacenza fought out a goalless draw at Lecce.