Catania topples Inter

Catania threw the Serie A title race open and took a giant step towards securing its own future in the top flight by beating 10-man Inter Milan 3-1 on Saturday.

Diego Milito put the Nerazzurri in front in the 54th minute, but Catania refused to accept defeat and Maxi Lopez equalised 20 minutes later.

Sulley Muntari was sent off after only two minutes on the field as he gave away a penalty which was converted by Giuseppe Mascara in the 81st minute.

And Jorge Martinez sealed a deserved and important win for the Rosazzurri in the last minute as Inter showed weaknesses ahead of its trip to Chelsea in the Champions League next week.

Its lead at the top of the table could be cut to just one point if AC Milan beats Chievo on Monday while Catania moves eight points clear of the bottom three.

Meanwhile in Germany, Schalke moved to the top of the Bundesliga table for at least 24 hours with a home 2-1 victory over Stuttgart.

Former Germany striker Kevin Kuranyi struck the winning goal after 56 minutes following a frantic 10-minute period when all three goals in the game were scored.

Edu Goncalves opened the scoring for the hosts less than a minute after his introduction as a half-time substitute before Serdar Tasci equalised after 50 minutes.

Kuranyi had the final say, however, to move Schalke a point ahead of Bayern Munich, which can regain top place when it hosts relegation-haunted Freiburg.