Serie A wrap: Samuel header helps AC beat Inter Milan

Veteran defender Walter Samuel scored the only goal of the game as Inter defeated AC Milan 1-0 at the San Siro on Sunday.

The Argentine headed home from Esteban Cambiasso’s cross with one of the first attacks of the match and Andrea Stramaccioni’s charges shrugged off the expulsion of Yuto Nagatomo to keep their rivals at bay and take all three points.

Needing a victory to move within four points of league leaders Jventus, Inter could not have asked for a better start. Barely four minutes ticked by when Cambiasso’s free-kick eluded Christina Abbiati and found its way to Samuel at the far post.

Nagatomo was sent off for a second bookable offence three minutes into the second-half but Inter held on for bragging rights in the derby and condemned Milan to their fourth defeat in seven league games.

Juventus made their second-half dominance pay with a late Claudio Marchisio strike securing a 2-1 win over a stubborn Siena side at the Artemio Franchi.

Juventus took the lead 14 minutes in courtesy of a free kick from Andrea Pirlo, however the two sides went in level at the interval, with Emanuel Calaio heading home just before the half-time whistle.

The win consolidates Juventus’ lead atop of the table alongside Napoli who defeated Udinese 2-1.

Following their 3-0 drubbing at the hands of PSV in the Europa League midweek, Napoli were keen to return to winning ways and they were put on the right track courtesy of Marek Hamsik.

The Slovakian found the back of the net on 30 minutes before Giampiero Pinzi drew Udinese level with two minutes left in the half, which ensured Napoli’s unbeaten start to the season.

However Macedonian striker Goran Pandev converted the match winner just seconds before the half-time whistle.

Under-fire Roma responded to last week’s humbling 4-1 loss to Juventus with a 2-0 win against Atalanta, courtesy of strikes from Erik Lamela and American Michael Bradley.

Roma boss Zdenek Zeman got the response he was after having dropped the likes of Daniele De Rossi, Nicolas Burdisso and Pablo Daniel Osvaldo for the clash with veteran Francesco Totti starring for the home side.

German international Miroslav Klose scored a brace and Hernanes added a third in a 3-0 win for Lazio at Pescara.

Catania scored in the opening two minutes and profited from a silly red card to defeat Parma 2-0 at home.

Papu Gomez was played through and fired home while Gonzalo Bergessio doubled Catania’s lead 10 minutes from time after Parma’s Yossi Benalouane received a second yellow for a mindless slap on Gomez.

Nene scored a second-half penalty that lifted Cagliari to a 1-0 win over Torino and talented Montenegrin Stevan Jovetic’s cheeky flick from a corner piece was enough to hand Fiorentina a 1-0 win over Bologna despite a host of wasted chances for the home side.