AS Roma thrashed Parma 4-0 at home on Saturday to cut Inter Milan's lead in the Italian Serie A to six points, while European champions AC Milan were held 1-1 by Lazio.
Strikes by Alberto Aquilani, Francesco Totti and Mirko Vucinic and a Giulio Falcone own goal gave second-placed Roma a win that puts them on 55 points from 26 games.
A Massimo Oddo penalty cancelled out Rolando Bianchi's opener at the San Siro and earned Milan a draw that leaves them one point behind fourth-placed Fiorentina and the Champions League qualification zone.
Inter can regain a nine-point lead by beating Napoli away on Sunday when third-placed Juventus also entertain Fiorentina.
In the capital, Italy midfielder Aquilani fired home in the 27th minute after Parma keeper Luca Bucci clumsily pushed a Marco Cassetti cross to his feet.
Roma doubled the advantage six minutes into the second half when Falcone found his own net in trying an overhead clearance while Christian Panucci lurked.
Parma had the ball in the other net from a free kick minutes later but a goal was disallowed for a foul that was hard to detect on TV replays.
Captain Totti drove in a thunderous strike from outside the box 10 minutes from time and Vucinic tapped in at the death to seal the win.
The result eased the Romans' disappointment at Wednesday's 1-1 draw away to Inter when Javier Zanetti's late equaliser denied them a win that would have opened up the title race.
It was also good preparation for next Wednesday's Champions League last-16 return leg at Real Madrid where Roma will defend a 2-1 advantage.
A shot from outside the area by 18-year-old Brazilian Alexandre Pato that did not trouble Lazio keeper Marco Ballotta was the highlight of a dour first half at the San Siro.
Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf came off in the 34th minute and Emerson was substituted at halftime, both because of muscular problems, which will be a concern for Milan in view of Tuesday's Champions League second leg against Arsenal.
Lazio took the initiative after the break and Milan keeper Zeljko Kalac had to produce fine saves to deny Goran Pandev and Tommaso Rocchi twice.
The visitors went ahead in the 54th when Bianchi tucked away a clever pass from Rocchi to score his second goal in two games.
Former Lazio full back Oddo levelled in the 66th after Valon Behrami brought down Kakha Kaladze in the area.
Lazio defender Lorenzo De Silvestri was sent off in the closing stages for cutting down Pato.
