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Goals from Diego Milito, Mario Balotelli and Esteban Cambiasso helped Internzionale to a 3-1 win at Bologna to put Jose Mourinho's side eight points clear at the top of Serie A.

Argentine forward Milito (pictured centre) put the visitors ahead when he finished from close range after a corner midway through the first half, but Uruguay striker Marcelo Zalayeta equalised almost immediately.

The 19-year-old Balotelli headed his side ahead just before the break and, with Dejan Stankovic and Milito hitting the woodwork, Inter deserved a third when Cambiasso finished emphatically to cap off a move he started with 17 minutes left.

Inter dominated from the start and, following 10 minutes of solid pressure, Romania defender Christian Chivu stung the palms of home keeper Emiliano Viviano after 13 minutes.

The Nerazzurri took the lead on 22 minutes, when, after the hosts failed to clear a corner, Chivu knocked the ball down to Milito, who hammered the ball into the roof of the net.

Within 60 seconds though the hosts were level, thanks to a moment of brilliance by Zalayeta, who killed Adailton's long ball with a superb right-foot touch and finished over Julio Cesar with his left.

Normal service resumed with Inter all over Bologna and mighty unlucky not to go ahead when Stankovic's low drive rebounded off the inside of one post, flew across the line and hit the other before landing in the arms of grateful keeper Viviano.

They regained the lead four minutes before half-time thanks to a powerful header from Balotelli as he rose to meet Maicon's corner.

The Italy U21 striker did not reappear for the second half, replaced by Samuel Eto'o probably on account of picking up a needless booking minutes before scoring.

Eto'o was lively and almost created a third when he cut the ball back to Milito, whose rising drive clattered off the bar via a touch from Viviano.

Stankovic went close soon after, stinging the palms of Viviano with a volley at the near post, but Cambiasso made sure of the three points with a powerful shot after he met a low ball from compatriot Milito, who he had released down the right with a brilliant cross-field pass.

It was not all good news for coach Mourinho though, after Maicon was shown a straight red card for dissent in the closing minutes.

Inter have 32 points from 13 games, although Juve with 24 do not play Udinese until Sunday evening.

Parma shocked Fiorentina with a topsy-turvy 3-2 victory in Florence that put the promoted side above La Viola into third.

Fiorentina's Alberto Gilardino, who left Parma for Milan in 2005, headed both opener and equaliser from corners.

But Nicola Amoruso, Valeri Bojinov - himself a Fiorentina old-boy - and Davide Lanzafame were on target as Parma clinched an unexpected win that was soured by the controversial late dismissal of Fiorentina's Marco Donadel.

La Viola bossed the opening exchanges but Parma should have taken the lead on four minutes when on-loan Manchester City forward Bojinov drilled wide after he was put clean through by Amoruso.

Fiorentina skipper Dario Dainelli came to the rescue 10 minutes later with a last-gasp tackle when Daniele Galloppa's flick-on almost sent Blerim Dzemaili one-on-one as, for all the hosts' possession, Parma looked the more dangerous on the break.

The home side had their first real chance on 25 minutes, but Antonio Mirante was equal to Marco Marchionni's clipped finish after a brilliant turn and through-ball from Gilardino on halfway.

They took the lead from the subsequent corner as Gilardino nodded Mario Santana's corner into the right-hand side of goal for his eighth of the season.

Parma were back on level terms soon afterwards though as, on the half-hour, home defender Gianluca Comotto failed to step up, playing Christian Zaccardo onside down the right to set-up Amoruso for an easy finish.

The second half saw Parma match Fiorentina and they took the lead five minutes in when Bojinov slid in to poke home after he broke another poor offside trap at a free-kick.

Gilardino's imperious headed levelled 11 minutes later but Parma showed why they are confounding pre-season predictions of relegation by scrapping their way to a win.

Midway through the second half, veteran defender Christian Pannucci rolled back the years with a delightful through ball that split the home defence and let Juventus old-boy Lanzafame - who had only come on for Bojinov three minutes previously - race clear to poke past Sebastien Frey.

Marchionni had a great chance to level with 12 minutes left but headed into the side netting from close range.

There was late controversy when, with echoes of Howard Webb's dismissal of Egypt's Ahmed Al Muhammadi against Brazil in the Confederations Cup, referee Daniele Orsato showed Donadel a second yellow card after he caught Stefano Morrone with a dangerous tackle.

It was not initially even called a foul but, as play was stopped for the hurt Morrone to receive treatment, Orsato changed his mind seemingly under advice via his earpiece, awarded a free-kick and gave Donadel his marching orders.

Justice was done as it was a poor challenge, but Fiorentina were furious as they felt the referee broke the rules in acting under external orders, as Englishman Webb did when he belatedly sent Al Muhammadi off for deliberate handball after initially signalling for a corner.

Despite being down to 10 men, the hosts almost snatched a late equaliser but were denied by Mirante's fantastic stop from a Gilardino header in the fifth minute of injury time.

Parma's third place could be temporary, as Milan, Sampdoria and Genoa are all in action on Sunday.

Reda Maher / Eurosport