The Inter Milan coach Leonardo suffered his first defeat in six games when the Serie A champions lost 3-1 at Udinese, giving his former side AC Milan a boost as they beat Cesena 2-nil to stay four points clear.
A 2-nil win for second-placed Napoli at bottom side Bari made the day worse for Inter, who have a game in hand in fifth but now trail leaders Milan by nine points and the Neapolitans by five just over halfway through the campaign.
The European champions had won five straight games in all competitions since Leonardo replaced Rafa Benitez on December 24th, sparking hopes of an incredible scudetto-winning comeback, but the Brazilian was undone in a niggly game.
