Lazio players celebrate their second and clinching goal through Stefano Mauri in the 2-1 win over Cagliari.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Lazio continue to set the pace in Serie A with a 2-1 win over Cagliari
- Champions Inter Milan held 1-1 by Sampdoria in the San Siro
- Rangers beat Celtic 3-1 in the Old Firm Derby for ninth straight win
- Villarreal move to second in the Spanish standings with 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid
(CNN) -- Lazio opened up a four-point lead at the top of the Serie A standings with a 2-1 home win over Cagliari on Sunday.
Defending champions Inter Milan missed the chance to move closer to Lazio in second spot as they were held 1-1 in the San Siro by Sampdoria in the late kickoff.
Sergio Floccari gave Lazio the lead in the 21s minute and in-form Stefano Mauri doubled the advantage after 53 minutes as he scrambled the ball over the line in fortunate fashion.
Alessandro Matri headed home a late Cagliari goal but Lazio hung on for the three points.
Lazio coach Edy Reja is trying not to get carried away despite their superb start to the season.
"It's not for us to talk about the title but we are showing that we're a top team," he told AFP.
It's not for us to talk about the title but we are showing that we're a top team
--Edy Reja
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By contrast, Lazio's arch city rivals Roma were held to a drab 0-0 draw by Parma and trail them by seven points in the standings, having played a game more.
Juventus also failed to take closer order in the title race as they were also held goalless at Bologna.
Inter needed an 80th minute equalizer from Samuel Eto'o to salvage a point against the visitors who had taken the lead through Stefano Guberti on the hour mark.
Inter were close to losing their first home league game in three years until Cameroon star Eto'o grabbed his 15th goal in 13 games this season in all competitions.
AC Milan can cut the gap to two points on Lazio if they beat fellow title challengers Napoli in Monday night's match.
In Spain's La Liga, Villarreal made it four successive home wins at their El Madrigal stadium with a 2-0 victory over Atletico Madrid.
The win sees them move above champions Barcelona on goal difference into second a point behind league leaders Real Madrid.
Goals from Ruben Cani and Giuseppe Rossi helped Juan Carlos Garrido's men extend their unbeaten run to seven games.
While in Scotland, Rangers beat Celtic 3-1 in the Old Firm Derby to record their ninth straight win of the league season.
Celtic, who had gone into the crunch match with eight wins as well, took the lead through Gary Hooper, but a Glenn Loovens own goal put Rangers level three minutes after the break.
A Kenny Miller double then gave Walter Smith's men the three points at Parkhead.
