Top three all win in Italy as Motta maintains Inter's one-point lead

Thiago Motta, pictured, scored twice to help suspension-hit Inter Milan keep their noses in front in Serie A with a 3-0 win over Bologna yesterday. The Brazilian midfielder's goals were separated by a 52nd-minute effort by Mario Balotelli, the 19-year-old forward who was frozen out of the team for a month following a row with Jose Mourinho, the coach. Roma, who stayed in the hunt for the title by beating Inter last week, remain a point behind on 65 with six games to go thanks to a 1-0 victory at Bari. AC Milan are two points adrift of Roma in third after ending a streak of three matches without a win with a 3-2 victory at Cagliari, with all the goals coming in the first half.