AC Milan showed no sentiment for former coach Fabio Capello last night, defeating his Italian first division leaders AS Roma 3-2 at the San Siro to throw the race for the Scudetto wide open.
Now Roma lead nearest challengers Juventus by just three points - only eight days ago that margin stood at eight.
Milan's Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko eclipsed Roma's Argentinian forward Gabriel Batistuta, scoring two goals to bring his tally to 13 this season.
The game was as good as over at half-time and will leave Capello - given a warm reception by fans in recognition of his trophy-laden stint with the Rossoneri - with food for thought.
Brazilian Leonardo gave the northerners a first-minute lead from a freekick and Shevchenko doubled the margin after being played through by Demetrio Albertini.
Francesco Totti's long-distance effort rekindled Roman hopes but the Ukrainian's second on the stroke of half-time effectively killed the match.
Totti converted a late second from the penalty spot after a foul by Roque Junior on Batistuta but it was too little, too late.
Earlier, a second-half goal from Juventus striker Filippo Inzaghi helped his side record a 1-0 win in their grudge match with Perugia.
Fiorentina had to settle for a 0-0 draw at Atalanta - a disappointing end to a dreadful week for the Florence outfit whose Turkish coach Fatih Terim announced this week that he would leave the club at the end of the season.
Parma's Arrigo Sacchi is still waiting for his first win in his second spell as club coach after Lecce's Cristiano Lucarelli struck in the last minute to earn his side a 1-1 draw.
Yugoslav striker Savo Milosevic headed Parma ahead from a Sergio Conceicao cross but a rash dash off his line by Parma keeper Gianluigi Buffon presented Lucarelli with his opportunity.
Meanwhile, in Spain European champions Real Madrid were lucky to escape with a 2-2 draw at Real Valladolid but still retained their position at the head of the table as reigning champions Deportivo La Coruna moved into second, two points adrift, with a 3-1 win at Malaga.
Deportivo leapfrogged Barcelona, who had moved second overnight after a fine 1-0 success at fourth-placed Valencia.
Real now have 39 points from 18 matches with Deportivo on 37 from 19 and Barca 36 from 19.
