Inter Milan have bounced back for a hard-fought 2-1 win against Verona to go top in the Italian Serie A, courtesy of a winning strike from Nicolo Barella.
The Nerazzurri are two points clear of champions Juventus, who have 29 points and can claw back the lead if they beat AC Milan on Sunday in the closing encounter of matchday 12.
The Milanese hosts fell behind on 19 minutes to a penalty taken by Valerio Verre after goalkeeping captain Samir Handanovic floored Mattia Zaccagni and pressed until the 65th to level from Matias Vecino's header.
Home striker Romelu Lukaku had three chances in the first half as Marcelo Brozovic and Stefan de Vrij also threatened, with the guests only managing a couple of harmless counter-attacks.
Verona goalkeeper Marco Silvestri was stunned when Vecino soared on a cross from Valentino Lazaro and stood no chance when Barella's drive swerved into the top right corner on 83 minutes.
Verona, who with 11 goals conceded boast the league's third best defences, remained ninth on 15 points.
Napoli were held to a 0-0 at home by lowly Genoa after a week troubled by the players' refusal to go into a retreat ordered by club president Aurelio De Laurentiis.
The Neapolitans tallied a third point from four games and stayed seventh on 19, while Genoa are one point away from the drop zone.
Earlier on Saturday, Andrea Belotti and Alejandro Berenguer score twice each for Torino in a 4-0 away win at 10-man Brescia.
The hosts suffered their eighth defeat of the campaign, this one under the guidance of new coach Fabio Grosso, a 2006 world champion with Italy who was hired this week to replace Eugenio Corini.
Belotti converted two penalties awarded for handball in the first half and Berenguer scored twice after home defender Ales Mateju was sent off on 41 minutes with a second booking.
Torino, who had clinched two points from the past six games, are 11th on 14 points from 12 games.
Brescia are in the drop zone on seven points with a game in hand they will play on December 18 against Sassuolo.
Australian Associated Press
