Inter Milan survive Chievo scare to extend lead

Inter Milan went nine points clear at the top of Serie A ahead of Sunday night's late match between pursuers Juventus and AC Milan after a nervy 4-2 home victory over rock-bottom Chievo.

Inter looked to be coasting two minutes into the second half when they led 2-0 but the Flying Pigs staged an unexpected fight-back to level things at 2-2 before Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted a late brace.

It leaves Jose Mourinho's champions nine points clear of Juve, Milan and Napoli, who beat Lecce 3-0 on Saturday, and able to watch Sunday's big match in the knowledge that at least one of their main rivals will drop points.

Inter were off to a dream start on three minutes as Brazilian full-back Maxwell cantered down the left on the overlap, took a pass from Dejan Stankovic, cut inside and rifled home right footed.

It was a similar story at the start of the second period as the champions fashioned a brilliant goal through Stankovic.

The Serbian midfielder fed Maicon galloping down the right and he crossed into the box where Ibrahimovic's deft flick fell perfectly for Stankovic to fire home.

Leading 2-0 at home to the bottom side, Inter would have been expected to win at a canter but instead Chievo mounted an unlikely comeback.

Sergio Pellessier started things off with a stunning shot from distance that gave Julio Cesar no chance in the Inter goal.

And on 65 minutes the San Siro was stunned into silence as Andrea Mantovani got to the byeline on Chievo's left and crossed for Simone Bentivoglio to bundle home from barely two yards out, and courtesy of a deflection off Maxwell.

Mourinho didn't waste much time in trying to kick-start his team, throwing on strikers Hernan Crespo and Mario Balotelli as well as winger Luis Figo.

But it was Ibrahimovic who made the difference, rising highest to head home a cross from Maicon with 11 minutes left.

Chievo's Santiago Morero was sent off for a second booking and then the Swede smashed home a stunning right foot shot two minutes from time to put an undeserved gloss on the victory.

AS Roma won for the fifth match in a row to continue their recent resurgence with a come from behind 3-2 success at home to Cagliari.

Roma have been upwardly mobile since a disastrous start to the season in which they lost six of their first nine matches and they now find themselves in the top half of the table for the first time this campaign.

Things looked good as Francesco Totti put them in front but goals from Daniele Conti and Brazilian Jeda turned the match on its head before Simone Perrotta's acrobatic finish restored parity.

Roma threw everything but the kitchen sink at Cagliari and Mirko Vucinic scored the winner in injury time after a scramble in the box.

Adrian Mutu and Alberto Gilardino scored as Fiorentina went fifth with a 2-0 home win over Catania.

Udinese's slump continued as they blew a 3-0 lead at home to Lazio to draw 3-3 and extended their winless streak to seven games.