Ronaldinho‘s first-half header gave Milan a 1-0 victory over Internazionale in a pulsating derby at the San Siro that saw Nicolas Burdisso sent off.
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The Brazilian leapt majestically to meet Kaka’s floated right-wing cross on 36 minutes and powered a header past Julio Cesar to give Milan a deserved lead.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team could have taken a bigger advantage into the interval if not for Cesar’s sharp save to deny Ronaldinho on 25 minutes.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with Milan dominating possession and offering far more in terms of creative intent and ambition.
But while Inter trailed by a single goal there was always hope, and both Julio Cruz and Zlatan Ibrahhimovic threatened with long-range efforts.
Jose Mourinho’s team were reduced to 10 men on 70 minutes when Burdisso was adjudged to have fouled Kaka on the halfway line and delivered a second yellow card.
Kaka and substitute Andrij Shevchenko both had chances to kill the game late on, but it was Inter who were to left to rue the best chance of the second half, which fell to Adriano deep into added time.
The Brazilian was unmarked at the far post with the goal at his mercy, but headed wide from five yards to end Inter’s hopes of salvaging an unlikely point.
Roma 2-0 Atalanta
First-half goals from Christian Panucci and Mirko Vucinic gave Roma a comfortable 2-0 win against Atalanta at Stadio Olimpico.
Roma captain Panucci capitalised on defensive indecision following a Jeremy Menez corner on 17 minutes to shoot past Ferdinando Coppola, with the help of a large deflection.
Luca Spalletti’s side doubled their lead on the half-hour mark, when Mirko Vucinic swivelled to shoot home from 12 yards after more good work from Menez – and more woeful defending from the visitors.
Atalanta offered little in terms of attacking threat, but wasted a glorious chance to get back into the match on 62 minutes, when Panucci sliced a clearance to send Sergio Floccaro clean through on goal.
The striker evaded the challenge of Brazilian goalkeeper Dida, but got the ball caught under his feet before he could shoot or play a decisive pass to lay on a team-mate.
Substitute Jamie Valdes had an even better chance 10 minutes later, but he poked his shot wide from a tight angle.
Roma played out the remainder of the match at no more than half-pace, making the occasional foray forward, but generally sitting deep with men behind the ball.
Alberto Aquilani and Jon Arne Riise both threatened from distance, but ultimately the home side appeared content to play the ball across midfield and run down the clock.
Following last week’s crushing 3-0 defeat to Genoa, Spalletti and his team were no doubt more than happy with the scoreline, which brought their second Serie A win of the season.
Torino 1-3 Lazio
Mauro Zarate scored a brace as city rivals Lazio went top of Serie A with a 3-1 win at Torino.
Goran Pandev set them on their way in Turin by driving a loose ball into the bottom corner on the half hour.
Argentine forward Zarate wrapped things up in the second-half, rifling in from outside the box and converting a late penalty for his sixth goal in five games.
Torino, who finished the match with nine men after keeper Matteo Sereni was sent-off for fouling Cristian Brocchi to concede the penalty and Francesco Pratali went for a second yellow, pulled one back with a stoppage-time Nicola Amoruso penalty.
Bologna 0-1 Napoli
Napoli go second after they won 1-0 at Bologna with a German Denis goal three minutes from time.
Udinese 2-1 Siena
Fabio Quagliarella fired in after Antonio Di Natale served him from the byline in the 22nd and then set up Simone Pepe for Udinese’s second seven minutes later to help Udinese to a 2-1 win over Siena.
Houssine Kharja scored Siena’s goal in the 38th.
Palermo 1-0 Reggina
Palermo forward Fabrizio Miccoli capitalized on poor defending to steal possession before outfoxing Reggina keeper Andrea Campagnolo seven minutes after the break as Palermo won 1-0.
The visitors pushed forward in search of the equalizer but never seriously troubled Palermo goalkeeper Marco Amelia.
Lecce 2-0 Cagliari
A thunderbolt by Guillermo Giacomazzi on 34 minutes and Jose Castillo’s second-half tap-in left Cagliari firmly rooted to the bottom of the table with no points after a 2-0 loss to Lecce.
Catania 1-0 Chievo Verona
Striker Michele Paolucci rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home after a long run in the 17th minute to give home side Catania a 1-0 win over Chievo Verona.
Chievo had defender Davide Mandelli sent off for a second yellow card in the closing stages.
