Fiorentina remain in 10th place and have won just three times in 11 outings, despite their impressive form in Europe. Earlier in the day Piacenza beat Verona 1-0 thanks to a 42nd minute penalty from Arturo Di Napoli.

SEVILLA SCRAMBLE: Sevilla ended their league match against arch-rivals Malaga with only eight men on the pitch but managed to hang on for a point in a 0-0 draw yesterday. The steady procession to the dressing rooms in Seville started after 76 minutes.

Three Sevilla players jostled Malaga's Brazilian striker Catanha. Carlos Marchena was adjudged to have overstepped the mark and sent off. Catanha then over-reacted to the intimidation and lashed out. He was shown thered card. Sevilla's Jose Maria Quevedo was sent off two minutes from the final whistle for collecting his second yellow card, in a match with more than 40 fouls. His colleague Francisco Lama trod the same route in injury time.

MONACO ON TOP: Monaco returned to the top of the French first division when they thumped Le Havre 4-1 yesterday, their third consecutive away win. Marco Simone (2), captain Sabri Lamouchi and defender Marquez scored for Monaco.

Olympique Marseille, playing their first game since coach Rolland Courbis resigned this week, were held to a 2-2 draw at Nancy with Florian Maurice scoring two but missing an injury time penalty.

Paris St Germain are third, another point further back, after beating Montpellier 1-0 away. Aj Auxerre were beaten 1-0 by Stade Rennes and slip back to fourth.