ROME — Inter Milan’s lead at the top of Serie A was cut when it lost 2-1 at home to Lazio Sunday while AS Roma beat Genoa 2-0 to record its first win in eight games and ease the pressure on under-fire coach Rudi Garcia.
The title race remains congested as second-placed Fiorentina defeated Chievo 2-0 and Napoli, in third, beat Atalanta 3-1. Juventus’ winning streak continued when it came from behind to beat Carpi 3-2.
Napoli and Fiorentina have 35 points, one behind Inter which was sunk by two-goal Antonio Candreva.
Roberto Mancini’s side fell behind when Candreva struck a fifth-minute thunderbolt but it leveled as captain Mauro Icardi slotted the ball beneath Etrit Berisha in the 61st.
Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo then gave away a penalty in the 87th minute after fouling Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Candreva beat Samir Handanovic on the rebound after his initial effort was blocked.
Melo lost his composure and was dismissed in stoppage time after aiming a kung-fu kick at Lucas Biglia and Milinkovic-Savic received a second yellow card moments later.
“Unfortunately Melo did two stupid things,” coach Mancini told Sky Sport Italia. “We did the damage ourselves, we threw it away.”
AC Milan’s fine form under Sinisa Mihajlovic continued as it came from behind to win 4-2 at struggling Frosinone to extend its unbeaten run to eight in all competitions.
Verona and Sassuolo drew 1-1, Sampdoria beat Palermo 2-0 and Udinese won 1-0 at Torino.
Berlin blanks Mainz
Hertha Berlin beat Mainz 2-0 Sunday to consolidate third place in the Bundesliga ahead of the winter break and improve its chances of qualifying for the Champions League.
Vedad Ibisevic set up both goals and had one denied in a close offside call. He wasted a good late chance as he tried to score with his heel.
In the late match, Borussia Moenchengladbach rallied with 10 men to overcome Darmstadt 3-2 as the Bundesliga closed for the month-long winter break.
With 32 points, Berlin has played its second best half of the season and has three more points more than fourth-place Moenchengladbach. Berlin was fighting against relegation last season.
Mainz lost after seven matches without a defeat. — Agencies
