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Internazionale went top of Serie A after Wesley Sneijder netted in the third minute of added time in a 2-1 win over Udinese at the Giuseppe Meazza.

Inter boss Jose Mourinho was starring down the barrel of a third successive game without a win after Antonio Di Natale had quickly cancelled out Dejan Stanovic's 22nd minute opener.

But Sneijder, a summer signing from Real Madrid, popped up late on to hand Inter all three points - and prompt a pitchside jig of delight from the otherwise sullen Mourinho, who finally afforded a smile.

Victory for Inter was enough to depose Sampdoria from the summit of the table, at least until Sunday when the Blucerchiati host Parma. Udinese stay fifth.

To leave Milan without a point was harsh on the visitors, who matched the champions for the best part of the game.

Only with the clock ticking towards full-time did Inter finally begin to really threaten and once again - as they did so many times last season - they had to rely on a late moment of magic for victory.

That it came from Sneijder was fitting. The Dutchman was impressive and in the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was sold to Barcelona in the summer, he looked the most likely - indeed, the only candidate - to unlock Udinese's defence.

When the ball fell into his path in the 94th minute, he needed no second invitation. He jinked inside and let fly with a curler into the far corner, past the outstretched arm of Samir Handanovic.

Stankovic, who had earlier sustained a blow to his back in an aerial challenge, ignored his apparent pain to break the deadlock with a fine first-time drive into the top corner on the overlap from Samuel Eto'o pass.

But Inter's lead was to last just five minutes as Di Natale, who topped the Serie A scoring charts before kick-off, was put through on goal after a lovely turn from Gokhan Inler.

For a striker in such a rich vein of form, the finish was elementary. At least he made it appear so. It was the Italy international's ninth goal of a highly fruitful campaign so far.

He could - perhaps should - have added a 10th as twice he found himself in scoring positions, yet twice his radar proved uncharacteristically out of synch, most crucially in the final minute when he fired tamely at Julio Cesar after having been played in on goal by Simone Pepe's through pass.

Bari 0-0 Catania

In the early kick-off, Catania came away from the Stadio San Nicola with a point after a disappointing goalless draw with Bari.

Vitali Kutuzov went closest to breaking the deadlock, the Bari striker striking a post following a calamitous pass by Catania keeper Mariano Andujar in the first half.

Third-bottom Catania remain winless, while Bari, who move up to ninth place, were held to a draw for the fifth time so far this season.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport