Kaká curtails Inter streak

By Paolo Corradini

AC Milan moved back to the top of Serie A with a hard-fought 1-0 win against city rivals FC Internazionale Milano on Sunday, inflicting the Nerazzurri's first defeat in all competitions this season.

Low drive
Inter went into the encounter on the back of 27 Serie A games, nine UEFA Champions League ties and four Coppa Italia matches without a single defeat but there was no way back once Milan's Brazilian midfield player Kaká had diverted Gennaro Gattuso's low drive into the net for the game's only goal on 74 minutes. The defeat, Inter's first since May 2004, extended their winless run in 'home' Milan derbies to nine years.

Juve stroll
Juventus FC had a comfortable afternoon as they defeated AC Siena 3-0 in Turin. Juve broke the deadlock on 35 minutes when Alessandro Del Piero scored with a clever back-heel from Marcelo Zalayeta's low cross. Emerson doubled the lead five minutes after half-time when he headed in a corner from Mauro Camoranesi and Del Piero scored Juve's third from the penalty spot eight minutes later.

Palermo profit
US Città di Palermo earned a crucial 2-0 win against AS Roma, thanks to second-half goals from Franco Brienza and Luca Toni. The Sicilian side had midfielder Simone Barone sent off midway through the second half for a second bookable offence but nevertheless held on to win and move level on points with fifth-placed Udinese Calcio.

Late goals
Elsewhere, a solitary goal from Shunsuke Nakamura was enough for Reggina Calcio to defeat AC Chievo Verona while Massimo Oddo and Antonio Filippini were on target as S.S. Lazio overcame Parma FC 2-0 in Rome. US Lecce defeated FC Messina Peloro 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Sasa Bjelanovic. Bologna FC were held to goalless draw against AS Livorno Calcio while a last-gasp penalty from Michele Marcolini helped Atalanta BC salvage a 3-3 draw at Cagliari Calcio.