Roma close the gap to a single point by beating Inter Milan 2-1

AS Roma 2-1 Inter Milan

Luca Toni struck in the second half to lift title-chasing Roma to a 2-1 victory over Serie A leaders Inter Milan.

After Daniele De Rossi opened the scoring for Roma in the 17th minute, Inter were unlucky not to pull level as Walter Samuel and Diego Milito were denied by the crossbar either side of half-time.

But Inter were finally rewarded when Milito equalised soon after the hour mark but Toni struck the winner with 17 minutes remaining to send the Stadio Olimpico fans into raptures.

Palermo 3-1 Bologna

Fabrizio Miccoli fired a hat-trick to give Palermo's bid for a Champions League place renewed impetus with a 3-1 victory over Bologna.

Miccoli fired the Rosanera ahead after 10 minutes, but Bologna leveled after 38 minutes when Martins Adailton curled in a free-kick.

The Rosanera's frustration at allowing an equaliser was short-lived as Miccoli put Palermo back ahead from the penalty spot four minutes later before wrapping up his hat-trick 11 minutes from the end.

AC Milan 1-1 Lazio

AC Milan stumbled again in the title race as they were held 1-1 by Lazio.

Milan could have joined Roma on 62 points with seven games remaining but were left frustrated.

Marco Borriello put them ahead at the San Siro after 19 minutes, converting a penalty. However lowly Lazio levelled in the 32nd minute when Stephan Lichtsteiner scored to earn them a point in their battle against relegation.

Juventus 2-1 Atalanta

Juventus put back-to-back league defeats by Sampdoria and Napoli behind them, beating Atalanta 2-1 with goals from Alessandro Del Piero and Felipe Melo.

Melo headed the 82nd-minute winner from Del Piero's cross after former Juventus striker Nicola Amoruso had equalised before the break for the visitors.

Italian Serie A Top Six Standings

Team        Pl  W  D L  Fr Ag Pts 
Inter Milan 31 18  9 4  58:28  63 
AS Roma     31 18  8 5  56:35  62 
AC Milan    31 17  9 5  49:29  60 
Palermo     31 14  9 8  46:38  51 
Napoli      31 12 12 7  41:36  48 
Juventus    31 14  6 11 48:44  48