Milan capitalise on Fiorentina slip

[TAREK®]

Pato profits
Milan took the lead with 19 minutes gone in Tuscany when Pato dispatched a loose ball after Empoli goalkeeper Davide Bassi dropped Massimo Oddo's cross. The hosts restored parity within five minutes when Antonio Busce swept the ball in at the far post and it looked as though the Rossoneri's indifferent form was going to continue until Massimo Ambrosini's headed in Kaká's cross, before the Brazilian scored himself moments later from the edge of the area.

Contrasting emotions
Fiorentina looked set for a point at Siena until Massimo Maccarone's 80th-minute strike. Maccarone was then sent-off seconds later, but Siena held out to move six points clear of the relegation zone.

Away wins
Fresh from their midweek exploits against Real Madrid CF, AS Roma celebrated another away victory thanks to goals at the beginning of each half from Simone Perrotta and Francesco Totti at SSC Napoli. The win once again cut FC Internazionale Milano's advantage at the top to six points. Meanwhile, UC Sampdoria strengthened their European ambitions for next season with a 2-1 success at Parma FC, who drop into the bottom three. The Blucerchiati are now one point behind sixth-placed Udinese Calcio.

Catania joy
Elsewhere, S.S. Lazio consolidated their mid-table position with a 2-0 defeat of AS Livorno Calcio. Two goals inside ten first-half minutes from Tomasso Rocchi (14) and Goran Pandev (24) were enough for the hosts, a defeat which leaves Livorno just a point above the relegation zone. That is because Calcio Catania moved out of the relegation zone after coming from behind to see off fellow strugglers Cagliari Calcio, who remain bottom.

Turin proud
In the day's other game Simone Barone scored just a minute before Atalanta BC's Maximiliano Pellegrino was dismissed, to hand Torino FC the points. Their city rivals, Juventus, are away at Genoa CFC in the late fixture.

Source: UEFA