Udinese and Lazio spurn their chance

Udinese Calcio's hopes of replacing Juventus at the Serie A summit were scuppered by a 2-0 loss to UEFA Champions League contenders SSC Napoli.

Juventus assumed top spot on Tuesday when they defeated ACF Fiorentina but Udinese were unable to respond, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Christian Maggio scoring in the first half as the Zebrette lost their unbeaten start to the domestic season.

S.S. Lazio could also have ended the evening in pole position yet they too failed to take their chance. The Biancocelesti drew 1-1 at home with Calcio Catania, who cancelled out Miroslav Klose's 17th-minute opener just after the hour.

AC Milan, meanwhile, moved level with fourth-placed Napoli and to within a point of Lazio and Udinese thanks to a 4-1 defeat of Parma FC, Antonio Nocerino scoring a hat-trick at the San Siro as the Rossoneri recorded their fourth-successive win in all competitions. Nocerino is the second Milan player to register a treble in four days after Kevin-Prince Boateng in Sunday's 4-3 comeback victory against US Lecce.

While Milan prosper FC Internazionale Milano and AS Roma continue to struggle for consistency. The Nerazzurri were held 1-1 at Atalanta FC, despite taking the lead through Wesley Sneijder, and remain in 16th position, while Roma lost 2-1 at Genoa CFC.