With leaders AC Milan facing second-placed Napoli on Monday night against for the chance to extend their lead, neighbours Inter were the highest-placed club in action over the weekend, playing at struggling Sampdoria. But it was a rampant Udinese side that took all the plaudits helping their goal difference on the way.

Inter had Wesley Sneijder and Samuel Eto’o to thank for their 2-0 victory at Sampdoria. Palmero can look to the dismissals of Bacinovic and Darmian as excuses for their 7-0 home drubbing by Udinese but by the time the former had received his marching orders they were already 5-0 down with Sanchez having completed his hat-trick. He grabbed a fourth before Darmian saw red and Di Natale completed his own treble from the spot to complete the rout.

Lazio dropped back after losing to an Acquafresca strike at Cagliari in a bad tempered affair that saw eight bookings. Local rivals Roma faired a little better but still managed to throw away a two-goal lead in the capital. A penalty from Totti and a 36^th minute second from Juan gave Roma a comfortable half time lead. However, Amauri struck twice inside five second half minutes to grab a point for lowly Parma.

At the bottom, Bari had a late Ghezzal goal to thank for a home point against Fiorentina whilst closest team Cesena scored even later with Jimenez’s 90^th minute penalty enough to secure what could be a vital win against Chievo. Brescia and Lecce fought out a 2-2 draw with the visitors being the happier of the two having come back from a two-goal deficit to maintain a gap albeit small over the bottom three.

The best of the rest saw Bologna record a famous 2-0 win at Juventus, Di Vaio their hero with two second half strikes and putting another dent in Juve’s hopes of European football next season.