Inter open up Serie A advantage

Cruz heroics
Inter and Juventus shared the lead on seven points after three games but the Turin side were held 1-1 by Calcio Catania. It seemed the reigning champions would be drawing themselves but substitute Cruz's half-volley after being set up by Zlatan Ibrahimović ensured the home side's domination paid off.

Juve held
Juve looked to be on course for victory when Amauri turned in a 16th-minute Sebastian Giovinco cross. But with 22 minutes left Catania substitute Gianvito Plasmati headed in from close range to equalise and although Amauri then hit the crossbar, Juve could not force a winner.

Challengers
They are now down to fifth as victories for S.S. Lazio and Atalanta BC moved kept them within a point of Inter. Lazio beat ACF Fiorentina 3-0 and their goals came in an eight-minute spell early in the second half courtesy of Stefano Mauri, Goran Pandev and Sebastiano Siviglia. Meanwhile, a 79th-minute Sergio Floccari goal gave Atalanta a 1-0 victory against Cagliari Calcio, still without a point.

Napoli rise
SSC Napoli complete the new top four after Marek Hamšík's early goal and Marcelo Zalayeta's strike on 75 minutes gave them a 2-1 victory at home to US Città di Palermo despite Fabrizio Miccoli's late penalty. Udinese Calcio are sixth after a 3-0 win at Bologna FC. Gaetano D'Agostino's early penalty, for which Miguel Britos was dismissed, was swiftly added to by Antonio Floro Flores before Simone Pepe clinched a 3-0 success.

Milan victory
Catania, like Udinese, are on seven points while one behind are Palermo, Genoa CFC – 3-1 victors against AS Roma – and AC Milan, who clinched a 2-1 success at winless Reggina Calcio with a 78th-minute Pato goal. Torino FC drew 1-1 at AC Chievo Verona to move on to five with AC Siena, whose goalless game against UC Sampdoria took the Genoa side out of the bottom three at Bologna's expense though they are yet to pick up a victory.