Milan back on top

AC Milan returned to the top of Serie A tonight with a 2-0 win at the expense of nine-man Roma.

Hernan Crespo’s header and Andrea Pirlo’s penalty in the second half lifted the defending champions ahead of Juventus on goal difference in the two-horse race for the Scudetto.

Roma’s Christian Panucci was sent off for the handball that led to the penalty and he was later joined by Francesco Totti for a petulant kick at an opponent.

It was a miserable first Serie A match in charge for Roma coach Bruno Conti who took the reins after Luigi Del Neri quit last week.

Juve had beaten Reggina 1-0 yesterday with Alessandro Del Piero getting the goal.

Both clubs are 16 points clear of third-placed Internazionale who beat Fiorentina 3-2 at the San Siro.

The fourth Champions League spot now belongs to Udinese who beat Lecce 2-1 while Sampdoria lost unexpectedly by the same scoreline to bottom club Atalanta.

Elsewhere, Chievo beat relegation rivals Brescia 3-1, Livorno and Cagliari shared six goals, as did nine-man Parma and Palermo, while the match between Messina and Bologna finished goalless.