Fiorentina, Inter tighten Europa grip

Fiorentina dominated 10-man Verona in an eight-goal thriller while Inter Milan stunned 10-man Sampdoria 4-0 in Genoa as both sides tightened their grip on Serie A’s two Europa League places. 

Elsewhere Napoli resisted a fightback from Lazio, who also had a player sent off, to prevail 4-2 thanks to an injury-time goal from Gonzalo Higuain which gave the Argentine striker a hat-trick on Sunday. In a late match captain Riccardo Montolivo struck a first-half missile to earn AC Milan a 1-0 win over basement side Catania.

Frustrated throughout by Maurizio Pellegrino’s ill-disciplined side, Milan missed a series of half-chances before Andres Rinaudo saw red in the 78th minute for a rash challenge on Philippe Mexes, his second bookable offence coming after several previous warnings.

But Clarence Seedorf’s men held on to their slim lead to claim a fourth consecutive win for the first time this season to move up to eighth, only five points off Inter. 

Leaders Juventus are not in action until Monday when they travel to Udinese looking to restore their eight-point lead on second-placed Roma, whose 3-1 win at home to Atalanta on Saturday reduced their arrears to five points. Napoli, in third, are 12 points adrift of Roma and still nine ahead of fourth-placed Fiorentina.

With all three CL spots virtually accounted for, the battle rages for places in Europe’s second-tier club competition. Fiorentina overcame conceding an early goal to hit back through Juan Cuadrado, Alberto Aquilani and Borja Valero before Verona midfielder Marco Donadel saw red for tripping Cuadrado. 

Verona soon reduced the arrears through a Luca Toni spot-kick, the veteran striker’s 17th goal of the campaign. But further goals from Alessandro Matri, from the spot, and Aquilani put the match beyond all reach despite Iturbe hitting a fine consolation in injury time.