Florence, Italy – Alberto Aquilani scored twice as Fiorentina cruised to a 4-1 win over 10-man Atalanta on Sunday at Artemio Franchi for its fifth straight win during a seven-game Serie A unbeaten streak.
Gonzalo gave Fiorentina the early lead and, after Giacomo Bonaventura notched an equalizer in the 32nd, Aquilani scored in the 42nd and in first-half extra time. Luca Toni added the fourth goal in the second half.
Fiorentina has outscored its last five opponents, 14-3, to climb into fourth place and within five points of leader Juventus. Atalanta had its five-fixture unbeaten streak snapped, and is 14 points off the pace in seventh.
With the score level at 1-all, Aquilani took over with two goals and an assist in a short span bridging the first and second halves. Aquilani scored off a free kick in the 42nd and off a corner kick just before half.
Four minutes into the second half, Aquilani found Toni for the clinching goal. With the three-goal cushion and a man advantage, Fiorentina easily wrapped up its eighth win through 13 matches.
Inter Milan 2, Cagliari 2
Milan, Italy - Davide Astori's own goal with eight minutes remaining rescued a point for Inter Milan on Sunday in a 2-2 draw against Cagliari at the San Siro in Serie A.
Rodrigo Palacio gave Inter the early lead, but a Marco Sau brace for Cagliari put the visitors ahead after 66 minutes. Davide Astori deposited the ball into his own net in the 82nd, giving Inter a share of the points.
The draw still leaves Inter Milan four points off the top, as it wasted a shot to close the gap on Juventus, which tied Lazio, 0-0, on Saturday.
Cagliari picked up its second straight draw but is winless in three straight and in the bottom half of the standings.
Bologna 3, Palermo 0
Bologna, Italy - Alberto Gilardino, Manolo Gabbiadini and Alessandro Diamanti scored as 10-man Bologna beat eight-man Palermo, 3-0, on Sunday at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in Serie A.
Bologna had lost five times during a six-match winless streak, but Gilardino scored in the 22nd minute and Gabbiadini doubled the lead in the 44th before the red card fiasco started in the second half.
Samir Ujkani was sent off in the first minute of the second half, and Diamanti converted the ensuing penalty, then Edgar Barreto and Carlos Labrin were sent off for Palermo and Saphir Sliti Taider was sent off for Bologna.
Bologna climbed to 16th place, one place ahead of Palermo.
Udinese 2, Parma 2
Udine, Italy - Raffaele Palladino scored in the 89th minute as Parma escaped the Stadio Friuli with a 2-2 draw against Udinese on Sunday in Serie A.
Parma trailed twice in the match, but Marco Marchionni answered an early goal from Antonio Di Natale and Palladino responded to a goal from Roberto Pereyra.
Parma has tied its last two matches during a three-game skid, but still sits eighth on 17 points. Udinese is 10th after its fourth straight draw during a five-game league unbeaten run.
Siena 1, Pescara 0
Siena, Italy - Francesco Valiani scored in the first half and Siena held on for a 1-0 win Sunday at the Stadio Artemio Franchi over Pescara, which missed a penalty and had two guys sent off late.
Siena extended its modest unbeaten streak to three games and has just one loss in its last five league matches. Siena is still in the bottom three in 19th.
Pescara lost for the third time in its last four games, and is just one point above the relegation zone.
Catania 2, Chievo 1
Catania, Italy - Sergio Almiron scored twice after halftime as Catania downed Chievo, 2-1, on Sunday at the Stadio Angelo Massimino to extend its undefeated streak to four games in Serie A.
Almiron scored in the 51st and 85th minutes, but Chievo only responded with a stoppage-time goal from Marco Andreolli, as Catania climbed into sixth place. Chievo is one point above the bottom three.
Sampdoria 3, Genoa 1
Genoa, Italy - Sampdoria snapped a seven-game losing skid on Sunday by knocking off rivals Genoa, 3-1, at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
The two teams entered the weekend as the bottom two sides in Serie A, but Sampdoria jumped out to a two-goal lead at halftime and held off the visitors to claim the win.
Andrea Poli scored 16 minutes into the game before a terrible own goal from Genoa's Cesare Bovo doubled the advantage.
Ciro Immobile pulled a goal back for Genoa in the 73rd minute when he scored on the rebound, but Emmanuel Icardi's goal in the 88th ensured Genoa of a sixth successive defeat.
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