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Serie A leaders Internazionale fell to a surprise 1-0 defeat to mid-table Napoli thanks to Marcelo Zalayeta's second half goal at the Stadio San Paolo.

The Uruguayan came off the bench to break the deadlock in the 73rd minute of a tight encounter and inflict just the champions' third defeat of the season.

Despite the reverse, Inter remain top of the table with five games to go, although second-placed Milan, who had earlier cruised to a 3-0 home win over 10-man Palermo, closed the gap to seven points.

That victory took the Rossoneri two points clear of third-placed Juventus, who twice had to come from behind to earn a 2-2 draw at bottom club Reggina.

In a game of few chances in Naples, Inter nearly took the lead after just three minutes of play, Walter Samuel seeing a firm header brilliantly saved by Nicolas Navarro.

Mario Balotelli, as effervescent as ever, saw a wickedly dipping shot land on the top of Navarro's net before forcing the Napoli keeper into stopping a second effort just after the half-hour mark.

Navarro was twice again brought into action after the break - by Patrick Vieira and Zlatan Ibrahimovic - before Napoli broke and took the lead through Zalayeta's excellent first-time hit with the outside of his boot.

Jose Mourinho's Inter pushed hard for a later equaliser, but Napoli stood firm to register their first Serie A victory since January and move into 12th place.

At the San Siro, a Filippo Inzaghi header was sandwiched by two Kaka penalties as Palermo barely raised a whimper in a match Milan dominated.

Palermo started brightly enough but Brazil star Kaka put Milan ahead when he slotted a 10th-minute spot-kick into the bottom right after Mattia Cassani fouled Massimo Ambrosini in the box.

Inzaghi extended the lead nine minutes later, with a typical off-the-ball run and header to convert a smart cross from Ambrosini, who burst into the box after a one-two with Kaka.

Seconds after the second-half restart, the veteran striker was close to his second and Milan's third but just missed a high cross with the goal unguarded.

Any hope of a Palermo comeback was effectively ended soon afterwards when defender Cesare Bovo needlessly tripped Inzaghi and picked up a second booking and an early bath.

Milan utterly dominated the second half and Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf had a low drive deflected wide after Marco Amelia parried Andrea Pirlo's long-range free-kick.

They got their third on 57 minutes when full-back Federico Balzaretti brought down Kaka in the area and the former World Player of the Year sent Amelia the wrong way with another cool penalty into the right-hand side of the goal.

Carlo Ancelotti's side could have further extended their lead but David Beckham and substitutes Ronaldinho and Andriy Shevchenko were off-target with their shooting.

In the day's other Serie A games, Bologna overcame Genoa 2-0 at home to dent the away side's Champions League ambitions.

Genoa drop to fifth behind Fiorentina after they beat Roma 4-1 on Saturday.

Torino won 1-0 against Siena and fellow strugglers Lecce beat Catania 2-1 to keep the battle against the drop tight.

Rounding off the weekend's action, Sampdoria drew 3-3 at home to Cagliari while Lazio were beaten 1-0 by Atalanta in Rome.

Reda Maher / Mike Hytner / Eurosport