Napoli held; Roma frustrated
Napoli failed to make up ground on Serie A leaders Juventus, instead settling for a 1-1 draw with Fiorentina at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
The Bianconeri banished talk of a crisis by dispatching Udinese 4-0 on Saturday, with Paul Pogba netting twice, but Napoli could not repeat the trick at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Facundo Roncaglia's spectacular, if unintentional, goal from within his own half gave the home side the lead in the 33rd minute, but Edinson Cavani replied within 10 minutes to join an exclusive club of players with 100 Serie A goals.
Both sides had chances to win the game in the second half, but a draw was a fair result for two sides who remain in the hunt for a Champions League place.
Giampaolo Pazzini picked up where he left off against Bologna to fire AC Milan above Roma and into sixth place in the table with a well-taken brace in a 2-1 win.
The Italy international orchestrated the Rossoneri's first win of the season with a hat-trick at the Renato Dall'Ara back in September, but he had laughed off suggestions he could repeat the trick at the San Siro this afternoon.
There was a touch of fortune about his opener deep into the second half, but his second goal was borne of fantastic individual skill and a predatory instinct in front of goal.
Philippe Mexes gave the hosts cause for concern with a careless own goal in the final stages but a rejuvenated Milan side found themselves back in the race for Europe.
Roma's later bid to claim sixth place back from Milan failed as the Giallorossi were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Inter Milan.
Francesco Totti's penalty put Roma in front in the 22nd minute before Rodrigo Palacio equalised in first-half stoppage time.
Roma had the better chances to win it but both sides appeared to tire quickly as the game soon fizzled out in the second half.
Genoa coach Luigi Del Neri was sacked after his relegation-threatened side lost 2-0 at home to Catania.
Goals in either half from Gonzalo Bergessio and Pablo Barrientos helped Catania continue their bid to take European football to Sicily and cost Del Neri, who replaced Luigi De Canio in October, his job.
The former Juventus boss leaves with Genoa three points adrift of 17th place and safety.
Elsewhere, Chievo restricted Parma to a frustrating 1-1 draw at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi that did nothing to boost either side's ambitions.
Roberto Donadoni's men took the lead against the run of play, Ishak Belfodil scoring from Parma's first attack immediately before the break but Alberto Paloschi ensured the points were shared with a headed goal shortly before the hour mark.
The start of Atalanta's home game with Cagliari had been delayed by 30 minutes due to heavy snow but the points were shared as Guglielmo Stendardo cancelled out Michele Canini's own goal before Luigi Giorgi saw red late on.
Bottom club Siena recorded a first league win in seven games when Erjon Bogdani settled a 1-0 victory over Sampdoria, while Pescara lost 2-0 at home to Torino thanks to goals from Mario Santana and Alessio Cerci.
On Saturday, Paul Pogba struck a brilliant brace as Juventus extended their lead at the top of Serie A with a 4-0 home win over Udinese.
The French midfielder broke the deadlock with a stunning 35-yard effort before topping that with another goal from long range to make it two.
The floodgates then opened at the Juventus Stadium, with Mirko Vucinic and Alessandro Matri also getting in on the act as Antonio Conte's men took full advantage of Lazio's 2-2 draw at Palermo.
The Biancocelesti needed a late Hernanes penalty to take a point at lowly Palermo after having been undone by two second-half goals in as many minutes.
Arevalo Rios cancelled out Sergio Floccari's early opener with 20 minutes to go and Palermo took a shock lead moments later through Paulo Dybala.
Gian Piero Gasperini's strugglers failed to hold on, though, as Hernanes converted an 84th-minute spot-kick after Floccari was felled in the area by substitute Ezequiel Munoz.
Sunday's Serie A Results
Saturday's Serie A Results