On a day when FC Internazionale Milano parted company with coach Gian Piero Gasperini, city rivals AC Milan also endured a difficult evening as they were held to a 1-1 home draw by Udinese Calcio.

Udinese's Antonio Di Natale (29) broke the deadlock with his fifth goal in as many matches following a Christian Abbiati error, but the Milan goalkeeper's blushes were spared by Stephan El Shaarawy's first Serie A goal (63). The draw keeps the Friulani at the Serie A summit, with Milan in 14th on two points from three games.

Sharing top spot with Udinese on seven points are Genoa CFC and Juventus, who had contrasting fortunes. Rodrigo Palacio scored twice as the Grifone overcame visitors Calcio Catania 3-0, while Juventus were frustrated in Turin by Bologna FC, Daniele Portanova (52) cancelling out Mirko Vučinić's opener (30) after Juve's Montenegrin international was sent off (45+1).

It proved an even worse night for SSC Napoli and Cagliari Calcio, both of whom would have taken pole position with a win, but instead lost 1-0 and 3-2 at AC Chievo Verona and US Città di Palermo respectively.

Elsewhere, Stevan Jovetić and Germán Denis each scored twice as ACF Fiorentina and Atalanta BC – the latter on their travels – claimed respective 3-0 and 2-1 victories against US Lecce and Parma FC, and S.S. Lazio came from behind to win 2-1 at AC Cesena.