Rome: Wesley Sneijder curled in a free kick and Samuel Eto'o also scored as Inter Milan won 2-0 at Sampdoria on Sunday to move into second place in Serie A.
Sneijder wound his shot around a wall in the 73rd minute and Eto'o found the target in added time to end Inter's four-match win less streak against Sampdoria at Luigi Ferraris stadium.
"I'm extremely satisfied. The victory today is worth extra for the difficulties involved — it's been a while since Inter won here," said Inter manager Leonardo.
In the second half, Sneijder was especially sharp, with the Netherlands playmaker nearly making it 2-0 with another free kick that bounced off the post in the 80th.
Likewise, Sampdoria midfielder Andrea Poli hit the post in the 43rd, as the hosts created more than Inter in the first half.
Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar was also sharp after taking the blame for the Champions League loss to Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
Inter moved within two points of city rival AC Milan, which hosts third-place Napoli on Monday.
Earlier, Udinese moved within one point of the Champions League places with a 7-0 rout of nine-man Palermo, a result which will likely lead to the removal of Palermo manager Delio Rossi.
Chile forward Alexis Sanchez scored four times at the Sicilian club's Renzo Barbera stadium and Antonio Di Natale added a hat trick to raise his season total to 21, moving past Napoli's Edinson Cavani for the Serie A scoring lead.
Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini said Rossi has a "one percent chance" of staying on.
"Rossi has destroyed this squad. I told the coach to get the defense in order and he didn't do it," Zamparini said. "You can't play like that."
Rossi announced he wouldn't resign, but said he accepts "full responsibility" for the rout.
"I don't want the guys to get too discouraged, because I don't think the difference between us and Udinese is seven goals," Rossi said. "I prepared the match poorly."
Elsewhere, former Juventus forward Amauri scored two late goals as Parma came back to draw 2-2 at Roma and spoil Vincenzo Montella's home debut as Roma manager.
Roma had gone ahead with a penalty from captain Francesco Totti, who was playing in his 600th match with his hometown club, and another first-half strike from Brazil defender Juan.
Roma also lost key midfielder David Pizarro to an apparent injury.
Montella, who replaced Claudio Ranieri on Monday, pointed out that Roma has allowed 24 goals in the final half hour this season.
"Until the 75th we didn't allow a shot on goal," Montella said. "We need to increase the pace and the players are open to that but it takes time and playing every three days doesn't help us."
Roma's city rival Lazio lost 1-0 at Cagliari due to a horrendous own goal from defender Andre Dias.
Also, it was: Bari 1, Fiorentina 1; Brescia 2, Lecce 2; and Cesena 1, Chievo Verona 0.
In the lunchtime fixture, Catania moved four points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win over Genoa in a match that included four expulsions and left Genoa depleted for its game against Inter next weekend.
Antonio Floro Flores put Genoa ahead in the 19th minute before Maxi Lopez and Gonzalo Bergessio hit back for Catania in the 51st and 55th.
Genoa defender Domenico Criscito was then sent off in the 67th for a foul on the edge of the area and Floro Flores and Genoa manager Davide Ballardini were sent off for ensuing protests.
Catania was reduced to 10 men in the 75th when Polish defender Blazej Augustyn was shown a red card for a questionable foul, setting up a penalty for Genoa, but Catania keeper Mariano Andujar blocked Miguel Veloso's spot kick.
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