<!--Article Start--> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="document jq_ColDocument jq_ShareArea"> <div class="tooltipContent"> <div class="scrollContent jq_Content jq_langdir tinyscrollbar doctooltip-y fontsize_0"> <div class="viewport"> <div class="overview"> <h3 style="text-align: justify">Mauro Icardi hit his eighth goal of the campaign as Inter Milan edged "tough" Empoli 1-0 to reclaim top spot as a five-way race for the Serie A crown opened up on Wednesday.</h3> . <p style="text-align: justify">Fiorentina had gone provisional top thanks to a 3-1 win at Palermo where Slovenia international Josip Ilicic notably struck a brace to take his goals tally to the season to nine in 18 games.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">But Inter, one of several teams showing they have the tools to unseat four-time consecutive champions Juventus this season, restored their one-point lead thanks to Icardi's winner on the stroke of half-time.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">It was the ninth time this season Inter have won 1-0, but that statistic is unlikely to unnerve coach Roberto Mancini as long as his side keep on winning.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"Empoli are a really tough side at home and (coach, Marco) Giampaolo is doing a great job here. We knew from the start it wouldn't be easy," Mancini told Mediaset.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"It's a good result for us after the winter break. We missed a chance for 2-0 and they had several chances to level because of mistakes we made."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">With Inter, Fiorentina and Juventus all victorious, Napoli were under pressure but stayed in the hunt with a 2-1 win at home to Torino that moved them back up to third place at the expense of Juve.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Between Inter and fifth-placed Roma there are now just six points.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Lorenzo Insigne gave Maurizio Sarri's hosts a 16th minute lead when he collected Jose Callejon's delivery to send a delightful lob over the head of Torino 'keeper Daniele Padelli from outside the area.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">At the other end, Pepe Reina produced a great one-handed save to keep out Fabio Quagliarella's pinpoint header, but the Spanish 'keeper was finally beaten by the former Juventus striker from the spot just after the half hour.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Torino were given the benefit of the doubt when Bruno Peres fell under a challenge from Faouzi Ghoulam, and Reina was unlucky after making solid contact with Quagliarella's spot-kick before it hit the back of the net.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Napoli, however, had the momentum in a dominant first half and Slovakian forward Marek Hamsik capped his 300th Serie A appearance with a superb angled strike four minutes from half time.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Torino came fighting back in a lively second half, when Sarri and Torino counterpart Giampietro Ventura were both sent from the touchline.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Inter weathered an early storm at the Castellani stadium, where veteran striker Massimo Maccarone, Riccardo Saponara and Piotr Zielinski were just off target for the hosts in a busy opening period that kept Inter 'keeper Samir Handanovic on his toes.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">On the stroke of half-time Empoli were made to pay for those misses, Icardi pouncing at the near post to beat home 'keeper Lukasz Skorupski to Ivan Perisic's weighted delivery.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Remarkably, the Argentinian -- who finished tied with veteran Verona striker Luca Toni on top of the league's scoring charts last season -- has only had 12 shots on target all season, with a return of eight goals.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Meanwhile, Juventus consigned their poor start to the campaign to distant memory with a commanding 3-0 win over Verona in Turin that left them fourth, still three points behind Inter and three ahead of Roma, who dropped points in a 3-3 draw away to Chievo.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Massimiliano Allegri's men have now won eight league games on the trot, and it came with relative ease after Argentina international Dybala put the hosts ahead after eight minutes.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">A Leonardo Bonucci header on the stroke of half-time and Simone Zaza's late goal capped a comprehensive win for the Turin giants.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Allegri told Mediaset: "We're back among the leading pack: whoever makes the fewest mistakes will triumph."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">He added: "We weren't great at the start of the game but we didn't concede anything to Verona.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"The lads did well, especially for a first game back after the holidays, but we're still not quick enough and we have to improve our technique."</p> <p style="text-align: justify"><strong>By AFP</strong></p> </div> </div> </div> </div></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <!--Article End-->