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Milan close up on city rivals Inter at top

Society Materials 16 November 2008 21:48 (UTC +04:00)

AC Milan maintained their Serie A title challenge with a narrow 1-0 win over bottom club Chievo Verona 1-0 on Sunday, CNN reported.

Brazilian superstars Kaka and Ronaldinho celebrate Milan's victory at the San Siro.

The victory leaves them one point behind their city rivals and defending champions Inter at the top of the Italian standings.

Milan's playmaker Kaka scored a 15th minute penalty at the San Siro after getting tripped while attempting to collect a pass from fellow Brazilian star Ronaldinho.

"It could be that the foul was outside the area, but only the replays could establish that," Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "Nobody could be sure when they saw it live.

"The only negative note was that we didn't finish the game off sooner with all that we created. We shouldn't have let the score stay 1-0 until the end."

Indeed Milan struggled for long stretches against Chievo, who have won only one game.

With Marco Borriello out injured, Ancelotti made only one substitution, bringing on Alexandre Pato for Filippo Inzaghi after an hour.

Milan's veteran midfielder Clarence Seedorf nearly made it 2- 0 in added time.

Meanwhile Napoli's title challenge faltered with a 3-1 defeat to Atalanta in Bergamo.

Adriano Ferreira Pinto had already put Atalanta ahead 1-0 when Napoli forward Marcelo Zalayeta picked up his second yellow card in the 67th, leaving the visitors with 10 men.

Napoli forward Marek Hamsik converted a penalty in the 73rd following a foul by defender Thomas Manfredini to make it 1-1.

Atalanta coach Luigi Del Neri was so incensed by the award he was shown red by the referee for his protests.

But he was smiling a minute from time as Manfredini scored from a free kick to restore Atalanta's lead.

Sergio Floccari added another goal for in injury time.

Inter lead with 27 points from Milan with 26, Juventus on 24 and Napoli 23.

On Saturday, Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice as Inter went back to the top with a 2-0 win at Palermo.

Juventus routed Genoa 4-1 on Thursday to temporarily join Inter atop the standings. Inter and Juventus play next weekend.

Lazio face AS Roma in a derby later Sunday.

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