Nine-man Inter seize derby success

FC Internazionale Milano made light of Wesley Sneijder's early dismissal to record an enthralling 2-0 win over AC Milan that lifted the Serie A leaders nine points clear of their city rivals in the standings.

Nine men
Victory for the second-placed Rossoneri would have taken them three points shy of their hosts with a game in hand, but they were under pressure from the start and conceded after just ten minutes when Diego Milito drove low into the far corner from the left for his 13th league effort this term. Sneijder was shown a red card for dissent with 27 minutes gone, yet Milan failed to capitalise and were left reeling by Goran Pandev's 65th-minute free-kick. Leonardo's charges may have sensed an unlikely comeback when Lucio was sent off for a handball inside the area in added time, however Júlio César kept out Ronaldinho's penalty to seal the outcome.

Napoli bid
In fourth, SSC Napoli maintained their spirited bid for a UEFA Champions League berth with a 2-0 triumph at AS Livorno Calcio that proved to be Serse Cosmi's last match in charge of the hosts. The 51-year-old resigned with the club two points out of the relegation places after Walter Mazzarri's Partenopei made it 14 Serie A matches without defeat, Christian Maggio registering late in the first period and Luca Cigarini doing likewise in the second, moments after Livorno goalkeeper Alfonso De Lucia had been dismissed.

Palermo climb
One spot beneath Napoli, US Città di Palermo climbed ahead of Juventus thanks to a 3-0 win over ACF Fiorentina. Cagliari Calcio missed the chance to move level with Juve, on the other hand, drawing 1-1 at basement side AC Siena, and they now find themselves with the same tally as Genoa CFC, who downed second-bottom Atalanta BC 2-0. Tenth-placed UC Sampdoria were victorious too, winning 3-2 at struggling Udinese Calcio, while Bologna FC saw off AS Bari 2-1 and S.S. Lazio drew 1-1 with AC Chievo Verona.