Adrian Mutu scored the winner as Fiorentina recaptured fourth place with a 2-1 home win over a spirited Catania side. Elsewhere, Sampdoria won the Derby della Lanterna as they beat bitter local rivals Genoa 1-0 thanks to Christian Maggio's late winner.

Fiorentina 2-1 Catania

At the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence, Zdravko Kuzmanovic put the Viola into the lead before Juan Vargas equalised for the Sicilian side on 60 minutes.

But Mutu pounced with a thunderbolt from 25 yards in the 71st minute to put an end to Catania's brief fight back and hand all three points to Fiorentina, who move three points clear of Milan in the final Champions League position.

Serb midfielder Kuzmanovic opened the scoring on the 40-minute mark, exploiting some poor marking to head Mario Santana's cross down past Ciro Polito in the Genoa net.

Fiorentina bossed the opening period and Romania striker Mutu had already come close to breaking the deadlock on several occasions prior to the opener as he put in a display which showed just why he is currently one of Serie A's most feared strikers.

On 19 minutes, the former Chelsea man controlled on his chest, swivelled and fired goalwards, only to see his effort deflected behind for a corner. Then, just before the half-time whistle in virtually an action replay of his previous effort, he fired just over the bar with a spectacular overhead kick.

Either side of those two efforts, the hitman dragged a couple of shots wide of the far post when perhaps he should have done better.

But after the break, Catania came out of the dressing room a different side and began to trouble their hosts' defence for the first time in the game.

So when Vargas blasted them level on the hour, it came as no surprise. The Peruvian full-back connected sweetly with a first time effort from outside the penalty area, leaving substitute keeper Vlada Avramov no chance in the Fiorentina goal as the ball arrowed into the top corner.

But man of the match Mutu proved to be the difference between the two sides as he deservedly got his name on the scoresheet in the 71st minute with a superb strike from 25 yards - his 14th league goal of the season.

Genoa 0-1 Sampdoria

Samp's Antonio Cassano was at his inspirational best and his cross set up Christian Maggio for the late winner.

Genoa striker Marco Di Vaio had an early header well saved by Luca Castellazzi before some wonderful play by Cassano sent Maggio clear but he made a hash of the finish and claims for a penalty were quickly waved away.

Genoa midfielder Danilo Sacramento was dismissed for a second yellow card 16 minutes into the second half at the two clubs' shared Marassi stadium.

Lazio 3-0 Atalanta

Home striker Tommaso Rocchi slotted in two penalties to boost the inconsistent Rome side.

His first came on 26 minutes after Christian Manfredini had been brought down by keeper Ferdinando Coppola and he converted the second two minutes from time.

Lazio's 43-year-old keeper Marco Ballotta pulled off a stunning save from Cristiano Doni's freekick before Goran Pandev put them two up at the second attempt.

Napoli 1-3 Empoli

Nicola Pozzi grabbed two goals to help Empoli climb out of the relegation zone but the striker injured himself as he powered in an angled drive for the second.

Promising youngster Sebastian Giovinco cleverly released Pozzi to put Empoli in front on 22 minutes but Napoli hit back through Daniele Mannini's tap-in after Ezequiel Lavezzi's ball across goal. Alessandro Budel added Empoli's third.

Home striker Marcelo Zalayeta and Empoli's Felice Piccolo were dismissed for an altercation in the tunnel at halftime while Napoli defender Maurizio Domizzi was sent off for a professional foul.

Palermo 2-1 Cagliari

The hosts triumphed in the battle of the island capitals to record only their second win in nine matches, although coach Francesco Guidolin was sent to the stands for arguing with the referee.

The Sicilians took an undeserved lead midway through the first half when Edinson Cavani nodded in on the line and then Bosko Jankovic kept his cool to make it two on halftime.

The Sardinian visitors, bottom in Serie A, had much the better of the first half and grabbed one back early in the second period through Cavini's own goal.

Reggina 1-3 Udinese

Simone Pepe guided in Gaetano D'Agostino's freekick at the far post to give the visitors an eighth-minute lead and Italy forward Antonio Di Natale added the second with a crisp left-foot shot on 64 minutes.

Francesco Modesto smashed in a great strike for the hosts 14 minutes from time before Di Natale sealed victory late on.

Siena 0-0 Torino

Massimo Maccarone shot over from a good position for third-from-bottom Siena and Torino's David Di Michele managed the same trick early in the second period of this dire goalless draw.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport / Reuters