Claudio Ranieri’s future as Inter coach was plunged into further doubt last night when his side lost 1-0 at Napoli, a seventh defeat in their last eight matches.
Beaten by an injury-time goal in Marseille in their Champions League last 16 first-leg clash in midweek, Inter are in seventh place in Serie A, nine points off the third and final qualifying place for next season’s premier European tournament.
Inter went into this match with history against them, having not won a league match at the San Paolo in Naples since a 2-0 victory in 1997.
Napoli, meanwhile, had been buoyed by a 3-1 Champions League win over Chelsea and their confidence was translated into three points when Ezequiel Lavezzi, who scored twice against the Londoners, hit a right-footed drive past Julio Cesar on the hour.
The home side, who are now in fifth place, even survived having Salvatore Aronica red-carded for a foul on Andrea Poli.
Udinese stayed third, six points behind leaders Milan, after a 3-1 win at Bologna, while Lazio are fourth, also on 45 points, thanks to a 1-0 win at home to troubled Fiorentina.
Miroslav Klose scored Lazio’s only goal after 36 minutes.
Roma’s bid for a top-three finish received another setback when they fell to a heavy 4-1 defeat at Atalanta.
The loss – Roma’s third in their last four away games – leaves Luis Enrique’s side in sixth place.
Roma were without two of their star players, with Francesco Totti suspended and Daniele De Rossi left out of the match-day squad by Enrique.
The decision to exclude De Rossi was not appreciated by the travelling Roma fans and in his absence, Atalanta’s Argentine striker German Denis claimed a hat-trick that took his tally for the season to 15 league goals.
In the fight against relegation, Siena capitalised on the early dismissal of defender Federico Balzaretti to romp to a 4-1 win at home to Palermo.
The Italian international saw red after just one minute and 13 seconds of the match, for a last-man foul on Siena’s Mattia Destro.
The victory kept the Tuscan side two points clear of the relegation zone, after third-bottom Lecce recorded a surprise 2-1 win at Cagliari.
Novara, 19th, fell 3-1 at Catania and bottom side Cesena lost 1-0 at Chievo to leave the two sides nine and 10 points from safety respectively.
Italy squad
Italy’s 23-man squad for Wednesday’s friendly against the United States in Genoa:
Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Sirigu (Paris SG), De Sanctis (Napoli), Viviano (Palermo).
Defenders: Abate (Milan), Balzaretti (Palermo), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Criscito (Zenit), Maggio (Napoli), Barzagli (Juventus), Ogbonna (Torino), Astori (Cagliari).
Midfielders: De Rossi (Roma), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Motta (PSG), Nocerino (Milan), Pirlo (Juventus).
Attackers: Giovinco (Parma), Pazzini (Inter), Matri (Juventus), Borini (Roma).
Serie A
Atalanta 4
Marilungo 10; Denis 19, 47, 66;
Roma 1
Borini 36;
HT: 2-1. Att: 16,000.
Red cards: Osvaldo (R) 54; Cassetti (R) 82.
Bologna 1
Kone 81;
Udinese 3
Di Natale 38 pen; Basta 56; Floro Flores 84;
HT: 0-1. Att: 16,209.
Cagliari 1
Larrivey 50 pen;
Lecce 2
Muriel 44; Bertolacci 62;
HT: 0-1. Att: 6,000.
Red card: Canini (C) 83.
Catania 3
Bergessio 30; Marchese 47; Gomez 54;
Novara 1
Rubino 84;
HT: 1-0. Att: 13,250.
Chievo 1
Moscardelli 78;
Cesena 0
HT: 0-0. Att: 8,000.
Red card: Lauro (CES) 56.
Lazio 1
Klose 36;
Fiorentina 0
HT: 1-0. Att: 20,000.
Napoli 1
Lavezzi 59;
Inter 0
HT: 0-0. Att: 40,000.
Red card: Aronica (N) 79.
Siena 4
Terzi 23 pen; Bogdani 34; Rossettini 46; Brienza 58;
Palermo 1
Budan 12;
HT: 2-1. Att: 8,604.
Red card: Balzaretti (P) 2.
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Milan | 25 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 49 | 22 | 51 |
| Juventus | 24 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 37 | 15 | 50 |
| Udinese | 25 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 37 | 23 | 45 |
| Lazio | 25 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 39 | 29 | 45 |
| Napoli | 25 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 42 | 24 | 40 |
| Roma | 25 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 38 | 31 | 38 |
| Inter | 25 | 11 | 3 | 11 | 34 | 34 | 36 |
| Palermo | 25 | 10 | 4 | 11 | 39 | 39 | 34 |
| Catania | 24 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 32 | 33 | 33 |
| Chievo | 25 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 21 | 30 | 33 |
| Atalanta (-6) | 25 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 30 | 28 | 31 |
| Cagliari | 25 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 23 | 26 | 31 |
| Genoa | 25 | 9 | 4 | 12 | 33 | 46 | 31 |
| Parma | 24 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 29 | 37 | 29 |
| Fiorentina | 24 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 23 | 25 | 28 |
| Bologna | 24 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 24 | 29 | 28 |
| Siena | 25 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 27 | 28 | 26 |
| Lecce | 25 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 28 | 40 | 24 |
| Novara | 25 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 21 | 45 | 17 |
| Cesena | 24 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 16 | 38 | 16 |
Top scorers
18 goals: Di Natale (Udinese).
15 goals: Ibrahimovic (Milan), Cavani (Napoli), Denis (Atalanta).
14 goals: Palacio (Genoa).
13 goals: Klose (Lazio).
12 goals: Jovetic (Fiorentina), Milito (Inter).
Next fixtures
Saturday: 18.00 Palermo vs Milan. 20.45 Juventus vs Chievo.
Sunday: 12.30 Parma vs Napoli. 15.00 Bologna vs Novara; Fiorentina vs Cesena; Lecce vs Genoa; Roma vs Lazio; Siena vs Cagliari; Udinese vs Atalanta. 20.45 Inter vs Catania.
Serie B
Brescia 1 - Torino 0
Leading standings: Torino 56; Sas-suolo 55; Verona 54; Pescara 52; Padova 46; Varese 45; Reggina, Bres-cia 42; Bari 39; Sampdoria, Cittadella, Grosseto 37.