Napoli, which was level on points with Milan before kick-off, missed its chance to go top as it lost 2-1 at Catania.

Alessandro Nesta scored Milan’s second, shortly after Nicolas Burdisso’s equalizer, to help Massimiliano Allegri’s side move a point clear of Juventus, which plays Inter Milan later.

Bojan Krkic gave Roma brief hope when he scored three minutes from time.

Napoli got off to the perfect start when Ezequiel Lavezzi fired his team ahead with less than a minute on the clock, but Giovanni Marchese and Gonzalo Bergessio scored for Catania.

Napoli also had Mario Santana sent off in the first half.