Milan earned a crucial 2-1 win at Fiorentina last night to maintain their three-point lead over Napoli, 2-0 winners at Bologna, at the top of Serie A.
Napoli had put the pressure on Milan with their victory earlier in the day but goals from Clarence Seedorf and Pato before half-time ensured Milan always had their destiny in their own hands before Juan Vargas’s late reply.
With just six games left, Massimiliano Allegri’s team are one step closer to a first title since 2004.
However, the returning Zlatan Ibrahimovic, having served a two-game ban, got himself sent off late on and will again be suspended.
Milan were always in control and after Artur Boruc had saved an early shot from Seedorf, the Dutchman gave the visitors the lead.
Ibrahimovic tried to play him in but a covering defender half cleared only for Pato to head the ball back into the danger zone where Seedorf volleyed home majestically.
Four minutes from the break, Milan hit La Viola with a rapier counter-attack as Ibrahimovic released Kevin-Prince Boateng down the right and he crossed for Pato to have the simplest of finishes.
Already it appeared to be game over but it could have been worse for Fiorentina as Ibrahimovic slotted wide when bearing down on Boruc.
However, 11 minutes from time Vargas’s shot deflected off substitute Gennaro Gattuso and beat Abbiati.
And Milan had a nervous last few minutes when Ibrahimovic got himself a straight red card for saying something to the linesman meaning another suspension.
Earlier in the day Napoli had made light of the absence of top scorer Edinson Cavani as Giuseppe Mascara and a Marek Hamsik penalty secured three points.
Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri said his team simply need to concentrate on winning their games.
“We need to try to win as much as possible. Today wasn’t an easy game, it was particularly hot but we did very well in the first half,” he said.
“We were under the cosh at the end but that’s to Bologna’s credit because they kept pushing right to the end.”
Lazio moved back into the top four and the crucial final Champions League qualifying position with a comfortable 2-0 win at home to Parma.
That took the Romans a point above Udinese, who controversially lost at home to Roma.
Serie A
Bari 1
Gazzi 33;
Catania 1
Lopez 44;
HT: 1-1. Att: 15,000.
Bologna 0
Napoli 2
Mascara 30; Hamsik 47 pen.;
HT: 0-1. Att: 33,092.
Cagliari 1
Cossu 22;
Brescia 1
Caracciolo 61;
HT: 1-0. Att: 10,000.
Red card: Eder (B) 45.
Fiorentina 1
Vargas 80;
Milan 2
Seedorf 8; Pato 41;
HT: 0-2. Att: 32,677.
Red card: Ibrahimovic (M) 87.
Juventus 3
Pepe 50; Matri 63; Toni 83;
Genoa 2
Bonucci 7 og; Floro Flores 57;
HT: 0-1. Att: 23,137.
Lazio 2
Hernanes 23; Floccari 77;
Parma 0
HT: 1-0. Att: 30,000.
Palermo 2
Kurtic 5; Pinilla 36;
Cesena 2
Parolo 90+2; Giaccherini 90+6;
HT: 2-0. Att: 22,375.
Red card: Von Bergen (C) 74.
Sampdoria 1
Maccarone 69;
Lecce 2
Di Michele 39; Olivera 66;
HT: 0-1. Att: 26,621.
Red card: Mannini (S) 72.
Top scorers
26 goals: Di Natale (Udinese).
25 goals: Cavani (Napoli).
19 goals: Eto’o (Inter), Di Vaio (Bologna).
18 goals: Matri (Juventus).
Next fixtures
Saturday: 18.00 Roma vs Palermo. 20.45 Milan vs Sampdoria; Parma vs Inter.
Sunday: 15.00 Catania vs Lazio; Cesena vs Bari; Chievo vs Bologna; Fiorentina vs Juventus; Genoa vs Brescia; Lecce vs Cagliari. 20.45 Napoli vs Udinese.
Prima Divisione A
Gubbio 1 - Bassano 1
Cremonese 2 - Como 2
Paganese 1 - Lumezzane 0
Alto Adige 0 - Monza 1
Alessandria 2 - Pergocrema 1
Reggiana 3 - Ravenna 0
Verona 2 - Salernitana 1
Pavia 5 - Sorrento 4
Spezia 0 - Spal 0
Standings: Gubbio 58; Sorrento 49; Alessandria 45; Salernitana 43; Verona 42; Reggiana 41; Bassano, Lumezzane, Como 39; Spal 37; Spezia, Ravenna 36; Cremonese 35; Pavia 34; Alto Adige 29; Pergocrema 28; Paganese 25; Monza 24.
Prima Divisione B
Andria 1 - Atl. Roma 1
Viareggio 1 - Cavese 1
Lanciano 0 - Cosenza 2
Nocerina 2 - Lucchese 1
Foggia 3 - Pisa 1
Gela 1 - Siracusa 0
Foligno 0 - Taranto 0
Juve Stabia 2 - Ternana 0
Today
Benevento vs Barletta
Standings: Nocerina 65; Benevento 52; Juve Stabia 48; Atl. Roma 47; Taranto 46; Foggia 44; Siracusa 41; Lanciano 40; Lucchese 37; Pisa, Gela, Cosenza 32; Ternana 31; Barletta 30; Andria 29; Viareggio 28; Foligno 27; Cavese 25.