Inter seven clear after derby win

MILAN, Italy -- Inter Milan have gone seven points clear at the top of Serie A after beating city rivals AC Milan 2-1 in the first Milan derby of the season.

The result means Inter, who are still unbeaten in the league this season, will go into the three-week festive break with a seven-point lead over the chasing pack while Milan, who have three games in hand, are 25 points off the pace down in 12th position.

Inter had the first chance of the match after just five minutes when Brazilian right-back Maicon crossed to the back post where Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic volleyed over the bar.

Inter were pushing the pace of the game but Milan looked dangerous on the counter-attack and they took an 18th minute lead when Filippo Inzaghi earned a free-kick on the edge of the box after defender Ivan Cordoba dragged him down.

Andrea Pirlo stepped up to sweep home a superb curler into the top corner.

That sparked some life into Inter and they almost equalised two minutes later but Chilean midfielder Luis Jimenez grazed the bar with a shot from a tight angle after Julio Cruz's right-wing cross had not been dealt with by the Milan defense.

Inter did find a way back into the game 10 minutes before the break as Ibrahimovic and Esteban Cambiasso worked the ball to Cruz, who held off Clarence Seedorf's challenge before firing low past goalkeeper Dida.

Inter looked the stronger side after the break and a seemingly innocuous shot from Cambiasso sent Dida the wrong way on 64 minutes to give them the lead.

Late on, Milan did start to exert some pressure but goalkeeper Julio Cesar got down well to turn away Kaka's fierce drive.

Emerson and Massimo Ambrosini then both missed gilt edged chances to equalise as Inter became jittery in the final moments.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was not letting himself get too down, though. "We're lacking a point in the table because a draw would have been a fairer result," he said. "But we'll still have a good Christmas as we're world champions."

Roma stayed second in the table after a Francesco Totti double gave them a 2-0 win over Sampdoria on Saturday. Juventus are third, eight points off Inter, after goals from Hassan Salihamidzic and French forward David Trezeguet earned them a 2-0 success over Siena.

Fiorentina returned to winning ways in spectacular fashion as they thumped rock-bottom Cagliari 5-1 -- having not won in their previous five games. E-mail to a friend