Gabriel Batistuta's 13th goal in as many league games gave Fiorentina a 1-0 win over 10-man Juventus last night and took the Florence side four points clear at the top of Serie A. Juventus slip to ninth, 10 points off the pace.

Batistuta headed home a cross from Luis Oliveira after 57 minutes following a split second of indecision between Juventus goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi and his Croatian defender Igor Tudor.

Juventus's best chance came from a Didier Deschamps shot in the second half which ballooned off Fiorentina midfielder Sandro Cois' outstretched leg and hit the post. The Turin side had to play the entire second half with 10 men after Uruguayan defender Paolo Montero was sent off for a foul from behind on Edmundo on 42 minutes.

Fiorentina move four points clear of AC Milan, who jumped into second courtesy of a George Weah goal six minutes from the end of their home tie with Vicenza. The Liberian slid in to meet a cross from German Oliver Bierhoff and poked his shot past goalkeeper Pierluigi Brivio to give Milan a 1-0 win.

Milan earlier had midfielder Massimo Ambrosini sent off for diving in the penalty area in search of a penalty - his second bookable offence.

Ronaldo was also among the late scorers, poaching the only goal of the game in the 89th minute as Inter Milan triumphed at Udinese to rekindle their title challenge.

The Brazilian stepped on to a pass from Roberto Baggio following a scramble in the Udinese penalty area and flicked a left-foot shot past goalkeeper Luigi Turci.

AS Roma and Parma are tied on 23 points following their 1-1 draw. Argentine Hernan Crespo gave Parma a first-half lead after Roma goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti had parried a shot from Enrico Chiesa after 39 minutes. Roma had two penalty appeals turned down before substitute Carmine Gautieri pulled them level on 59 minutes.

Roma's arch-rivals Lazio hammered Sampdoria 5-2 at the Olympic stadium, thanks in part to a hat-trick of free-kick goals from Sinisa Mihajlovic.