Inter Milan maintained their top position by beating fiorentina

Inter Milan beats Fiorentina 2-0 at the San Siro on Sunday to maintain their four-point lead in Serie A. Goals from Esteban Cambiasso and teenage striker Mario Balotelli earned the champions a deserved victory over Champions League chasing Fiorentina. The result also gave AC Milan a Champions League lifeline after they lost 3-2 at Juventus on Saturday. The Viola’s loss meant Milan remain just four points off fourth place and the final Champions League qualification position. Inter had the better of the first half chances but goalkeeper Sebastien Frey was in fine form. But he could do nothing 10 minutes after the restart when Patrick Vieira managed to square the ball into the box, finding Cambiasso, who rifled home into the roof of the net. Seven minutes later rising star Balotelli beat the offside trap and kept his head to cooly slot home.

Inter Milan regain top slot at Serie A

Milan: Inter Milan restored their four-point lead in Serie A after goals from Patrick Vieira and Mario Balotelli secured a 2-0 win at Atalanta on Sunday. Second-placed AS Roma’s 3-2 win over Genoa on Saturday had cut the gap to a point but champions Inter returned to form with a clinical display after three league games without a win. Vieira’s 21st-minute header was controversial however, after he climbed all over Atalanta defender Maximilano Pellegrino to convert Balotelli’s corner. Balotelli, 17, scored his first league goal when he rounded the keeper in the second half. With six games remaining, Inter have 72 points and Roma are on 68. Fourth-placed Fiorentina are four points clear of AC Milan in the race for the final Champions League spot after strikers Giampaolo Pazzini and Adrian Mutu sealed a 2-0 win over Reggina.