Vieri celebrates Inter Milan's opener (GraziaNeri/Allsport)

Inter and second-placed Roma, who beat Perugia 1-0 on Saturday, both have 49 points with third-placed Juventus a point behind.

Lazio and AC Milan ended their winless runs, while Bologna's 2-1 win at Verona allows them to move above Chievo into the fourth Champions League qualification spot.

At the foot of the table Fiorentina drifted deeper into relegation trouble after they lost 2-1 at home to fellow-strugglers Lecce.

None of the top three teams are truly shining at the moment but all are doing enough to stay in a battle that looks set to go to the wire.

Christian Vieri set Inter on their way with a 28th minute volley and a second half goal from Nicola Ventola doubled the advantage for Hector Cuper's side.

Roberto Muzzi pulled one back for Udinese in the 75th minute but Inter's Portuguese winger Sergio Conceicao restored the two goal advantage with a stunning strike before Giampiero Pinzi gave Inter a late scare with a fine shot a minute from time.

NO FEAR

Just as in their first meeting of the season, which ended 3-3, Torino showed no fear in confronting their more illustrious neighbours Juventus.

But whereas in October Torino came back from three goals down for a draw this time they will be disappointed to have only taken a point from another pulsating encounter.

Juve took the lead in the 10th minute with the prolific David Trezeguet heading home a fine left-wing cross from Edgar Davids.

But Marco Ferrante put Toro on level terms in the 65th minute with an angled drive from the right.

Ten minutes from the end French midfielder Benoit Cauet looked to have given Torino a famous win with his first ever goal for the club, slotting home a low Cristiano Lucarelli cross at the back post.

But Juve piled on the pressure with Ciro Ferrara hitting the crossbar and then with just a minute of normal time remaining Maresca rose superbly on the edge of the area to head home a Lilian Thuram cross.

GILT-EDGED

Lazio, with just one win from their previous ten games, looked set for another day of frustration at Atalanta when Claudio Lopez missed a gilt-edged chance to put them ahead midway through the second half.

But 12 minutes from the end Czech winger Karel Poborsky hooked the ball home from close-range to end Lazio's winless run of five games.

Milan had gone six league games without victory ahead of their trip to Venice but after a midweek UEFA Cup win at Dutch side Roda, Milan were too much for doomed Venezia.

Georgian defender Kakha Kaladze put Milan ahead in the 12th minute only to see Venezia's former Milan striker Filippo Maniero quickly restore parity with his 14th goal of the season.

But the second half belonged to Milan as Spanish substitute Javi Moreno restored their lead with a superbly angled header from a Cosmin Contra cross.

Then Romanian Contra, a former team mate of Moreno's at Spanish club Alaves, made it 3-1 before Moreno completed the romp after cutting in from the right.

CRUZ STRIKES

Bologna's 2-1 win at Verona, thanks to an injury time strike from Argentine Julio Cruz, moves them up to fourth, two points above fading Chievo who were held 1-1 at Brescia.

Fiorentina badly needed to win their relegation six-pointer with Lecce and they looked on course when their captain Angelo Di Livio put them ahead with a stunning long-range strike in the 43rd minute.

But just before the break Croat Davor Vugrinec brought Lecce level and then his Uruguayan strike-partner Ernesto Chevanton grabbed the winner seven minutes from the end.

But Fiorentina's miserable season was summed up when they were awarded a dubious last gasp penalty only for Brazilian Adriano to shoot wide.