Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a dubious penalty as 10-man Inter Milan beat second-from-bottom Empoli 1-0 on Sunday to pull eight points clear at the top of Serie A.
Brazilian keeper Julio Cesar saved a late Luca Saudati penalty for the Italian champions, who had Patrick Vieira sent off in the 39th minute.
Inter have 53 points from 21 games, while second-placed AS Roma stay on 45 after losing 3-0 at lowly Siena.
Third-placed Juventus trail the leaders by 12 after being held 1-1 at home by basement club Cagliari.