AC Milan moved ever closer to their first Serie A title since 2004 at the weekend after their closest rivals both suffered surprise losses.
After Milan beat Sampdoria 3-0 on Saturday, second-placed Napoli proceeded to go down 2-1 at home to Udinese on Sunday.
Coupled with Inter’s shock 2-0 reverse at Parma on Saturday, Milan now have a six-point cushion over Napoli with five matches left.
Photo: EPA
Inter are two points further back and hanging on for dear life to the third automatic Champions League qualifying spot, with Lazio in line for the qualifying round slot three points adrift of the nerazzurri after a 4-1 win at Catania.
Even better for Lazio fans, their city rivals Roma lost 3-2 at home to Palermo to leave the losers seven points off fourth place with little hope of Champions League soccer next season.
Udinese are a point behind Lazio after their win in Napoli, achieved in the absence of injured stars Antonio Di Natale and Alexis Sanchez.
Gokhan Inler gave Udinese the lead in the 55th minute, with German Denis doubling their lead minutes later.
Napoli aided their own downfall with Edinson Cavani’s missed penalty on 88 minutes before Giuseppe Mascara notched a late consolation deep into injury-time.
Lazio stayed in touch with Inter after Hernanes put them ahead on 40 minutes.
Ezequiel Schelotto leveled straight after the break, but further goals from Stefano Mauri, Sergio Floccari and Mauro Zarate underlined the visitors’ superiority.
Juventus are a point behind Roma in seventh after they could only draw 0-0 with Fiorentina.
In the race to beat the drop, 17th-placed Cesena leapfrogged Sampdoria after a 1-0 win over Bari.
Brescia, 19th, are on the brink after a 3-0 loss at Genoa left them four points off safety.
Lecce are fifth-bottom, a point ahead of Cesena, after a 3-3 draw with Cagliari.
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