Udinese win to top Serie A, Milan held

Milan: Udinese moved top of Serie A with a 2-1 win against Chievo on Sunday, while AC Milan was held to an entertaining 2-2 draw at Bologna and stayed third. Antonio Di Natale scored his 10th of the season for Udinese and Dusan Basta doubled its lead before Alberto Paloschi grabbed a consolation goal for Chievo.

Udinese is a point clear of Juventus, which has played a game less, and two points ahead of Milan.

"It's great. It's a magical period for us which we'll try to make last as long as possible," Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin said. "Udinese have done well these past few years but not like this past year and a half.

"We didn't play to our best in the first half. But in the second the lads played amazingly, at a very high rhythm. We're at a brilliant place in the table, let's see how long it will last for."

Marco Di Vaio put Bologna ahead but goals from Clarence Seedorf and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, from the penalty spot, then swung the match Milan's way. Alessandro Diamanti equalized for Bologna in the 73rd minute.

Bologna could have had a penalty when Seedorf handled in the area and Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri admitted his team was somewhat fortunate.

"Seedorf touched it with his arm, it was a penalty," Allegri said, before acknowledging that the spot kick granted against Ibrahimovic was a soft decision. "The defender kicked and Ibra threw himself to the ground, it's useless to deny the evidence. But the referee's errors weren't all against Bologna."

Elsewhere, Atalanta drew 1-1 at home to 10-man Catania and Parma held Cagliari to a goalless draw.

Milan could have been in front as early as the third minute when Ibrahimovic crashed a powerful free-kick off the crossbar from 25 yards.

The home side took the lead just eight minutes later when Diamanti sent a long ball through to Di Vaio, who beat the offside trap before lobbing the ball over the onrushing Marco Amelia.

Milan was back on level terms shortly after when Kevin Prince-Boateng jinked his way past two defenders before slotting the ball to Seedorf who controlled it with one touch and fired it into the top right corner from just outside the area.

Bologna should have been awarded a penalty on the stroke of halftime. Diamanti lofted a free-kick into the area which Seedorf clearly handled, but nothing was awarded, much to the displeasure of the hosts.

Bologna almost restored its lead two minutes after the interval as Di Vaio curled in an effort which struck the far post.

Milan went in front in the 72nd minute when Ibrahimovic was brought down by Andrea Raggi. Ibrahimovic dusted himself down and fired a perfect spot-kick into the bottom right corner. It was his ninth goal of the season and fourth penalty.

However, Bologna equalized immediately when Diego Perez found Diamanti, who rounded Thiago Silva before striking a fierce shot, which Amelia caught but failed to prevent going into the back of the net.

Following a drab first half at the Stadio Friuli, Udinese stepped up a gear after the break. Di Natale could have put his side in front before the hour mark with two great opportunities.

First he was set up by Mauricio Isla, who drew the goalkeeper toward him before laying the ball off to Di Natale, who was five yards out with the goal gaping, but Chievo defender Boukary Drame got there just in time.

Minutes later Di Natale saw an effort saved on the line by Bostjan Cesar.

However, in the 67th minute Di Natale did manage to put Udinese in front as he powerfully headed in Isla's cross. The Udinese captain moves level with Atalanta striker German Denis at the top of the goalscoring charts.

Udinese had won all six of it previous home games and it all but secured a seventh successive victory at the Stadio Friuli when Basta powerfully headed home a corner from 15 yards.

Chievo grabbed a consolation seven minutes from time when Sergio Pellissier found Paloschi on the edge of the area and he fired into the top left corner.

In Bergamo, Catania took the lead in the 18th minute when Nicola Legrottaglie headed Giovanni Marchese's cross in under the crossbar.

However, Catania lost Nicolas Spolli before halftime when he picked up a second yellow card for pushing over Denis.

Atalanta eventually made the man advantage count in the 71st minute. Simone Tiribocchi was completely unmarked in the area as a corner was lofted in. And, although he woefully mis-hit his effort, it went in.

Parma drew 0-0 at Cagliari in a drab match with few chances.