FC Internazionale Milano breathed new life into their title challenge after overcoming AC Milan 1-0 to win their first Derby della Madonnina in four attempts and move up to fifth place in the table, as Juventus assumed the league lead.

In an evenly matched contest at San Siro, Diego Milito's strike nine minutes after half-time proved the difference between the city rivals, ending Milan's 12-match unbeaten run and extending their own winning sequence in Serie A to six.

Though the Rossoneri came close on the stroke of half-time when Mark van Bommel crashed a first-time shot from the edge of the area against the crossbar, Milito fired his fourth goal in three matches in off the post shortly after the interval following an error by Ignazio Abate.

Inter are now five points behind Milan and six behind unbeaten Juventus, who drew 1-1 with Cagliari Calcio earlier in the day with the help of Mirko Vučinić's seventh-minute opener. Udinese Calcio missed out on the chance to join Juve at the top as they lost 3-2 at Genoa CFC, but S.S. Lazio stayed in touch with a 2-0 success against Atalanta BC. On Saturday night, AS Roma's trip to Calcio Catania was abandoned due to heavy rain.