Serie A wrap: Udinese see off Inter, Napoli on climb

Udinese pulled level with AC Milan on top of Serie A with a 1-0 win at Inter Milan, heaping further pressure on Inter coach Claudio Ranieri.

Mauricio Isla gave the visitors the lead midway through the second half, and Javier Zanetti was sent off – conceding a penalty – in the 85th minute, with Julio Cesar saving Antonio Di Natale’s spot kick.

Udinese’s Damiano Ferronetti received his marching orders three minutes later after he brought down Diego Milito in the box, but Giampaolo Pazzini blazed his 89th-minute penalty over the bar, much to the disappointment of the fans at San Siro.

The result sees Udinese climb to second, level on points with leaders AC Milan, while Inter sit 14th and four points above the relegation zone.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Napoli climbed to fifth place on the league table after posting a 4-2 win at home against Lecce.

A brace from Edinson Cavani and goals from Ezequiel Lavezzi and Blerim Dzemaili lifted Walter Mazzarri’s side to a convincing win.

Lavezzi opened the scoring after 26 minutes, and when Uruguay forward Cavani scored seven minutes later the home side were well on their way.

Dzemaili made it 3-0 at half-time, but Lecce pulled one back early in the second half through Luis Murial.

Cavani’s second – his seventh league goal of the season – eight minutes from time secured the win, with Daniele Corvia’s injury-time goal no more than a consolation for the visitors.