Thaindian News

Rome, Feb 20 (IANS) AC Milan beat Cesena 3-1 to return to the top spot of the Italian Serie A football standings.

Milan stormed to a 2-0 lead inside 31 minutes Sunday, thanks to goals from debutant Sullye Muntari and then Urby Emanuelson. Robinho added a third with ten minutes after the break before second-bottom Cesena netted a consolation goal through Daniel Pudil.

The victory lifts Milan a point clear of Juventus, who provisionally took over top spot with their own 3-1 win over Catania Saturday, although the Turin club still have a game in hand.

The two sides will meet at San Siro Saturday in an expectedly big clash which Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri said may well decide the title.

“We are happy to be up there, even with an extra match played. Now we have a whole week to prepare for Saturday’s big clash and I am certain we will put in a great performance,” he said.

“On Saturday it will be a fascinating encounter that may well decide the title,” he added.

In the other kick-offs of the day, Palermo thrashed a weakened Lazio 5-1 at home.

Udinese failed to score for the second successive match as they were held to yet another 0-0 draw at the Stadio Friuli by Cagliari.

Roma ended Parma’s five-game unbeaten run with a 1-0 win to climb to fifth, while Genoa fell to their third defeat in a row, dropping their first points at home in 2012 as they were edged out 1-0 by Chievo, Xinhua reports.

Lecce boosted their hopes of avoiding the drop by coming from behind to narrow the deficit on fellow strugglers Siena with a 4-1 win at the Stadio Via del Mare.

Andrea Caracciolo hit the post for Novara against Atalanta but the struggling side remain six points adrift of safety after a 0-0 draw.