By DPA
Milan : A solid Inter Milan won 2-0 away to Fiorentina Sunday to remain three points clear of Roma, who edged nine-man guests Udinese 2-1.
Inter lead in the Serie A on 31 points and, like Roma, have a game in hand on the other pursuers, to be played in midweek.
Third-placed Juventus follow on 26 points after a scoreless draw Saturday at AC Milan, while Udinese and Fiorentina were held on 25 and 24 points, respectively.
Title holders Inter secured their win in the first half thanks to assists from Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Chilean Luis Jimenez in the 11th minute and Argentine Julio Cruz shortly before the break.
After the first goal, Fiorentina missed several chances as Adrian Mutu fumbled a volley, Franco Semioli aimed a weak header and Giampaolo Pazzini squandered a header and a drive on 21 and 24 minutes.
Inter were in control of the game in the second half with Fiorentina coming very close only in the final minutes when goalkeeper Julio Cesar deflected a downward header from Semioli with the tip of his boot.
“Fiorentina played a good game in the first half, but we scored early, which helped us,” Inter coach Roberto Mancini said. “Then we did not fully secure the game as, even on 2-0, it is always risky with an opponent like this.”
Second-place Roma welcomed back Brazilian Rodrigo Taddei, who scored a 27th-minute winner.
His compatriot Juan had opened for Roma on 11 minutes with a tap in off a shot from David Pizarro, while Udinese levelled almost immediately through a great long-range shot from Fabio Quagliarella.
The hosts’ equalizing efforts lost steam with 12 minutes left as the just-fielded Giampiero Pinzi was dismissed for a from-behind foul and was followed off the pitch by the vehemently protesting Andrea Dossena.
Atalanta moved up to seventh place on 21 points through a 5-1 hammering of promoted Napoli, now lying on 18 points next to Milan and Catania, who won 3-1 over 10-man Palermo, also on 18.
In other matches in the day, Cagliari and Livorno drew 0-0, Siena drew 1-1 against Lazio, and Parma won 1-0 over Empoli.