Jeremy Menez scored twice to down Udinese 2-0 at San Siro as AC Milan climbed to fifth in Serie A.
The France forward converted a 65th-minute penalty after Maurizio Domizzi's dismissal to give Milan the lead their display deserved and he doubled up with a fine individual goal 10 minutes later.
Nineteen minutes from time Michael Essien saw red for a second bookable offence but Filippo Inzaghi's side were barely tested by the visitors, who slipped one place to ninth in the league table.
Genoa moved provisionally into third spot with a 3-0 win at Cesena.
Genoa got off to the perfect start as Alessandro Matri scored one goal and set up the other for a 2-0 lead by the eighth minute. Massimo Volta. Massimo Volta's 43rd-minute own goal put the visitors out of sight.
Elsewhere, Fiorentina got back to winning ways with an impressive 4-0 victory at Cagliari.
Matias Fernandez opened the scoring in the 17th minute which had an element of fortune about it.
Fernandez swung in a free-kick from near the touchline but it went straight in, with Cagliari goalkeeper Alessio Cragno presumably expecting Fiorentina defender Gonzalo Rodriguez to get a touch on the ball at the near post, rather than completely missing it.
Chile international Fernandez then drove in his second from around 22 yards with a low shot which beat the outstretched hand of Cragno.
Mario Gomez raced from the halfway line to make it three in the 69th minute and Juan Cuadrado beat the offside trap to complete the rout five minutes later.
Edgar Barreto created his team's first goal and scored the second before being sent off as Palermo secured a 2-1 home victory over 10-man Parma on Sunday.
Barreto set up Paulo Dybala for the hosts' opener in the 37th minute, only for Raffaele Palladino of bottom side Parma to equalise shortly after.
Barretto netted the winner in the 73rd minute with a free-kick that beat Parma goalkeeper Alessandro Iacobucci and was almost certainly intended as a cross.
Parma's hopes of pulling level were hindered after defender Felipe was sent off with 10 minutes remaining for a pair of yellow-card offences.
Palermo also ended the game with just 10 men when Barreto was shown a second yellow card in stoppage time.
Empoli and Atalanta fought out a goalless draw
