Milan move third, Sampdoria slip in Italy

AC Milan moved third in Serie A after surviving late pressure to defeat Lazio 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.

But 10-man Sampdoria slipped out of the Champions League places to fifth after falling to late goals against Cagliari in Sardinia.

Thiago Silva and Pato grabbed first half goals as Milan went seven games without defeat, continuing their recovery after a poor start to the season and giving credence to coach Leonardo’s comments on Saturday that the Rossoneri would challenge their city rivals for the scudetto.

After watching second-place Juventus knock five past Atalanta on Saturday, Milan began the game in positive fashion and their Brazilians profited with clinical copycat goals.

Pirlo and Ronaldinho bent in perfect centres from the left touchline and Thiago Silva, on 21min, and Pato, 35min, bought a yard on their markers to head home as the rain poured down.

Zarate gave the home side a lease of life on 64min when his shot deflected twice, lastly off Thiago Silva, before trickling into the corner.

A minute later, Dida had to beat away another drive from the dangerous Argentine.

Tomasso Rocchi headed wide on 77min as the Biancoceleste stormed forward but it was not enough and coach Davide Ballardini, without a win since the second game of the season, will not sleep easy tonight should he survive the evening.

Sampdoria’s faltering title challenge was not helped by first-half refereeing decisions. Antonio Cassano appeared to be flattened in the box on 22min before Lithuanian defender Marius Stankevicius was giving his marching orders for a professional foul just before the break.

Cagliari, who move up to eighth spot on 19 points, left it late but goals from Alessandro Matri and Daniele Conti earned them the three points. Fiorentina move fourth, joining Sampdoria on 21 points, after coming away from Udine with their first win in eight years.

Peruvian Juan Vargas got the only goal of the game six minutes from time against struggling Udinese.

Genoa rediscovered their scoring form to defeat basement boys Siena 4-2 and climb to sixth.

A Hernan Crespo double and Raffaele Palladino netted in the first half with Sergio Floccari making the game safe late on after Massimo Maccarone and Michele Paolucci had staged a mini-fightback for the Bianconeri.

First-half goals from Davide Lanzafame and Cristian Zaccardo were good enough to see Parma past Chievo Verona to join Parma on 20 points, while Riccardo Allegretti’s early strike saw Bari overcome Livorno and keep up their own push for a European spot.

A first-half double from Marcelo Zalayeta and a late Marco Di Vaio strike helped Bologna to 15th-spot above Lazio to a 3-1 defeat of Palermo Leaders Inter Milan take on Roma in the day’s late game.