Italy round-up: Batistuta back with a bang

A last-minute strike from Argentinian Gabriel Batistuta gave Serie A leaders AS Roma a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Hellas-Verona FC on Sunday.

Substitute appearance
Batistuta, coming on as a substitute after a month out with injury, claimed only his fourth goal of the season but it was a crucial one after Roma had stared defeat in the face.

Mutu double
Romanian Adrian Mutu, enjoying an excellent season for Verona, opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time when he robbed Roma defender Jonathan Zébina and rounded Francesco Antonioli before slotting into the empty goal. Eight minutes after the restart Mutu was put clear by Mauro Camoranesi and again showed great composure as he fired Verona into a two-goal lead.

Late drama
Roma's response was swift with Brazilian Marcos Assunção pulling a goal back just two minutes later with a fine left foot strike from the edge of the penalty area. Roma's promising young striker Antonio Cassano levelled the score with an outstanding volley at the back post, his first league goal for the club, just a minute after entering play as a substitute. There were chances at both ends before Batistuta struck from close range in the final seconds to complete the Roma revival.

Vieri seals Inter win
Inter moved to within a point of Roma when they beat Perugia FC 2-0 in Sunday's evening match. After a frustrating first half Inter took the lead in the 59th minute when Christian Vieri took advantage of some poor defending to crash home from close-range. Inter secured the win when substitute Alvaro Recoba showed good pace and composed finishing after being put in on the left.

Chievo held
An injury-time goal from Brazilian Adriano Leite, making his debut after a loan move from Inter, gave crisis-club AC Fiorentina a spirited 2-2 draw at AC Chievo Verona, who had midfield player Eugenio Corini sent off. Portuguese international Nuno Gomes put Fiorentina ahead in the 13th minute with a fine solo effort but Chievo drew level just before the break through a Corini penalty.

Red card
Corini was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 72nd minute but Chievo looked to have claimed victory when defender Lorenzo D'Anna headed home three minutes from the end. However, a minute into stoppage time Adriano rose to head home a free-kick from Roberto Baronio and earn his new side a vital point.

Juventus in charge
Juventus FC moved above Chievo into third place after goals from David Trezeguet and Mark Iuliano sealed a 2-1 win against bottom-club AC Venezia. Marcello Lippi's side got off to the perfect start when French international Trezeguet headed them into a fifth-minute lead. But Venezia drew level with an excellent 20-metre strike from Uruguayan midfielder Federico Magallanes in the 59th minute before Juventus defender Iuliano got on the end of a Pavel Nedved cross to restore the Turin club's advantage.

Bologna leave it late
Bologna FC, down to ten men from the ninth minute when Marcello Castellini was sent off and two goals down against Atalanta BC by the 23rd, were another team who left it late. Emanuele Brioschi struck an injury-time equaliser in Bologna's 2-2 draw after Atalanta midfielder Daniele Berretta, one of his side's scorers, was sent off eight minutes from the end.

Vugrinec saves Lecce
Parma AC looked to be heading for a third straight win after French defender Martin Djetou put them ahead against US Lecce but an 89th-minute free-kick from Croatian Davor Vugrinec gave the southern side a point.

Lazio defeated
S.S. Lazio fell to a surprise 1-0 defeat to Piacenza FC with Dario Hubner getting the crucial goal and Cristiano Lucarelli scored twice for Torino Calcio in their 3-2 win over Udinese Calcio, while Milan AC were held to a goalless draw at home to Brescia Calcio