Serie A wrap: Inter win, Napoli held

Resurgent Inter Milan leapt to fourth on the Serie A table with a 4-1 thumping of Bologna on Saturday, while Napoli were held by Fiorentina.

The defending Scudetto champions have won three from three since replacing manager Rafael Benitez with Leonardo, leaping over Roma into the top four ahead of the latter’s clash at Cesena on Sunday.

Serbia international Dejan Stankovic opened Inter’s account in the 20th minute, tapping in from close range after latching onto an inch-perfect pass by Samuel Eto’o.

Diego Milito was released by Thiago Motta on the half hour, with the Argentine attacker forcing his way down the left and chipping over Bologna goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano from a tight angle.

Inter kept up the pace in the second half as Eto’o nabbed a quick-fire brace to improve his season tally to nine.

The prolific Cameroonian pushed a low ball wide of Viviano after a clever one-two with Milito in the 63rd minute, then struck again nine minutes later with a terrific free kick that looped over the wall and tucked neatly inside the left post.

Uruguayan striker Henry Gimenez nabbed a consolation goal for Bologna in the 77th minute, pouncing on a loose ball near the six-yard box following a corner-kick scramble.

The win sees Inter improve to 32 points on the table and two points shy of the Champions League places occupied by Milan, Napoli and Lazio, with two games in hand.

Napoli, meanwhile, saw their chase of Milan’s lead falter with a 0-0 draw at home to Fiorentina.

Walter Mazzarri’s men dominated for long periods and had the better of the goal-scoring chances but could not put away the visitors.

Making matters worse for Napoli, defender Gianluca Grava was stretchered off near the half-hour mark with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.

Napoli remain second on the table but could be as many as six points adrift of Milan after the Serie A leaders travel to relegation battlers Lecce on Sunday.