Inter, Juventus win

Serie A leaders Inter handed Genoa their first home league defeat of the season yesterday when strikers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Mario Balotelli sealed a hard-fought 2-0 victory.

With 11 games left, the champions stay seven points clear of second-placed Juventus, who beat city rivals Torino 1-0 thanks to Giorgio Chiellini's 81st-minute header from a Pavel Nedved free-kick.

Torino goalkeeper Matteo Sereni had tried his best to extend his side's seven-game unbeaten run when he made a full length save to stop Vincenzo Iaquinta's first-half header.

Juve coach Claudio Ranieri left Alessandro Del Piero and some other first teamers on the bench with one eye on Tuesday's Champions League second leg against Chelsea.

Inter boss Jose Mourinho played almost his strongest side but centre-backs Marco Materazzi and Nicolas Burdisso went off injured in the first half.

Defenders Cristian Chivu and Walter Samuel were already struggling to be fit for the last 16 game against the holders and coach Mourinho now has a real headache.

Ibrahimovic, rested for Wednesday's 3-0 Italian Cup semi-final first-leg defeat by Sampdoria on the same ground, opened the scoring after two minutes when he raced onto Dejan Stankovic's pass and lifted the ball over keeper Rubinho.

Balotelli, accused of diving to win a penalty in last weekend's 3-3 draw with Roma, was at the centre of more controversy after 61 minutes when his weak shot was adjudged to have crossed the line despite Marco Rossi's attempts to clear.

Sixth-placed Roma, who host Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday, earlier lost David Pizarro to injury and had fellow midfielder Daniele De Rossi sent off in a 1-1 home draw with Udinese.

Felipe put Udinese ahead in the 54th minute after a mistake by Roma keeper Doni but substitute Mirko Vucinic equalised with a strong finish.