Milan capitalise on Fiorentina slip

Two goals inside the final four minutes gave AC Milan a 3-1 success at Empoli FC, a victory which reduced ACF Fiorentina's hold on fourth place to a single point following the Viola's loss at AC Siena. 

Pato profits
Milan took the lead with 19 minutes gone in Tuscany when Pato easily finished after Empoli goalkeeper Davide Bassi dropped Massimo Oddo's cross. The hosts restored parity within five minutes when Antonio Busce swept in at the far post and it looked as though the Rossoneri's indifferent form was going to continue until Massimo Ambrosini's headed in Kaká's cross, before the Brazilian scored himself moments later.

Contrasting emotions
Fiorentina looked set for a point at Siena until Massimo Maccarone's 80th-minute strike. Maccarone was then sent off seconds later, but Siena held out to move six points clear of the relegation zone. As well as seeing Milan close in behind them, the Viola are also now four points adrift of Juventus after the Turin club won 2-0 at Genoa CFC. Zdeněk Grygera gave the away side a 25th-minute lead which they doubled eight minutes later through David Trezeguet.

Away wins
Fresh from their midweek exploits against Real Madrid CF, AS Roma celebrated another away victory thanks to goals at the beginning of each half from Simone Perrotta and Francesco Totti at SSC Napoli. The win once again cut FC Internazionale Milano's advantage at the top to six points. Meanwhile, UC Sampdoria strengthened their European ambitions for next season with a 2-1 success at Parma FC, who drop into the bottom three.

Catania joy
Elsewhere, S.S. Lazio consolidated their mid-table position with a 2-0 defeat of AS Livorno Calcio. First-half goals from Tomasso Rocchi (14) and Goran Pandev (24) were enough for the hosts, a defeat which leaves Livorno just a point above the relegation zone. That is because Calcio Catania moved out of the bottom three after coming from behind to see off fellow strugglers Cagliari Calcio, who remain bottom. Torino FC also won, Simone Barone's goal in the 36th minute enough to see off Atalanta BC who had Maximiliano Pellegrino dismissed.