Serie A wrap: Inter rout Parma, Catania deny Lazio

Inter Milan highlighted their title credentials with a convincing 5-2 victory over Parma in the Serie A on Sunday.

Often reliant on the goals of Samuel Eto’o, Rafael Benitez’s side had to do without their suspended Cameroon striker and rose to the occasion with a compelling display that was underscored by a hat-trick from Serbian midfielder Dejan Stankovic.

Hernan Crespo gave Parma the lead after four minutes before a five-minute burst from Inter saw them move 3-1 ahead at the San Siro.

France forward Jonathan Biabiany was unstoppable, setting up Stankovic for goals after 18 and 19 minutes before also playing a part in Esteban Cambiasso’s 23rd-minute strike.

Crespo bobbed up again to score his second nine minutes before half-time as the visitors went into the break trailing 3-2.

The all-important goal eventually came when substitute Thiago Motta netted for Inter after 73 minutes before Stankovic sealed his hat-trick.

In other matches on Sunday, Lazio missed a chance to move within a point of table-toppers Milan after they could only draw 1-1 at home with Catania.

Argentine Matias Silvestre gave the visitors a shock lead but Hernanes’ strike ensured both sides shared the spoils.

Udinese moved into the top half of the table with an impressive 3-1 home triumph over Napoli.

A 16th-minute penalty kick-started Antonio Di Natale’s productive afternoon and the Italian striker grabbed a second on the stroke of half-time.

Di Natale’s third after 57 minutes looked to have wrapped up the contest but a superb long-range strike from Marek Hamsik kept Napoli in the game.

Napoli then won a penalty only for Slovakian international Hamsik to miss the subsequent spot-kick as Udinese held on for the win.

Elsewhere, Cagliari held off a fast-finishing Lecce 3-2 thanks to a first-half double from in-form striker Alessandro Matri.

Goals after seven and 15 minutes saw the AC Milan target improve his tally to eight for the season before Michele Canini added a third on the half-hour mark.

Second-half strikes from Ruben Olivera and David Di Michele gave Lecce a chance, but Cagliari were able to cling on for all three points.

Strugglers Bari and Cesena remain in the relegation zone after sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw, while the stalemate between Brescia and Genoa ended scoreless.