Story highlights
Lazio take top spot in Italy after a goalless draw away to Napoli on Saturday
AC Milan miss chance to take first place after being held 0-0 by Fiorentina
Inter Milan move away from the relegation zone with 2-1 win over Cagliari
Wesley Sneijder sits out the victory after an injury scare in the warm-up
Lazio went top of Italy’s Serie A on Saturday despite drawing 0-0 at fifth-placed Napoli, as champions AC Milan also dropped points.
The Rome club moved a point above Udinese, who dropped to third ahead of Sunday’s trip to struggling Parma.
Goalkeeper Federico Marchetti kept Lazio in the match with vital saves from South American strikers Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani.
Fourth-placed Juventus could go level with Lazio on 22 points by winning at home to fifth-placed Palermo on Sunday.
AC Milan moved above Udinese on goal difference after also being held goalless at mid-table Fiorentina on Saturday.
Coach Massimiliano Allegri had warned his players to not think ahead to Wednesday’s home match against Barcelona, with Milan already qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League, but they could not earn a sixth consecutive Serie A win.
Veteran Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf had the ball in the Florence side’s net in the first half but it was ruled out for offside.
Brazil striker Alexandre Pato came on as a substitute but could not cap his comeback from injury with a goal as keeper Artur Boruc pushed his shot onto the post.
Inter Milan moved three points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win at home to mid-table Cagliari.
Strikers Giampaolo Pazzini and Mauro Zarate hit the crossbar in the first half before midfielder Thiago Motta broke the deadlock from close range nine minutes after the break.
Fellow Brazilian Philippe Coutinho doubled the lead on the hour with his first goal this season, while Argentine striker Joaquin Larrivey scored a late consolation for the Sardinians after having an earlier effort ruled out.
Inter coach Claudio Ranieri was happy with his team’s win ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Turkish club Trabzonspor, but was forced to rest Wesley Sneijder after the Dutch playmaker felt a pre-match twinge.
“After the last ball he kicked in the warm-up he felt something like a contraction, and I thought it was useless to risk him,” Ranieri said.
“I kept him out specifically to have him for the Champions League. We’ll see with the doctor and the player.”
