ROME - Inter Milan were held to a 1-1 draw against Lazio here Saturday, despite playing the final 35 minutes with an extra man.
Inter, who will battle it out with Porto next Tuesday for a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, took the lead just before half time when Antonio Filippini headed in a left-wing cross from his brother Emanuele.
Lazio were then reduced to 10 men when Giuliano Giannichedda picked up his second yellow card in the 55th minute.
Inter stepped up the pressure and they deservedly equalised in the 70th minute, Julio Cruz leaping high to head home Jose Ze Maria's right-wing cross.
Inter bombarded Lazio's goal in the closing stages and their pressure nearly paid off in the last minute of normal time when Dejan Stankovic's 20-yard drive struck the crossbar.
Inter's 17th draw of the season saw them climb into third place above Sampdoria, who play joint league leaders AC Milan on Sunday.
Inter and Sampdoria have 47 points, 13 less than AC Milan and Juventus.
A point for Lazio lifted them up one place into 11th position.
As expected, Inter coach Roberto Mancini received a hostile reception having walked out on Lazio last summer just weeks after pledging his loyalty to the Rome club.
Fiorentina remain in serious danger of losing their Serie A status despite fighting back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw at Lecce.
A Sam Dalla Bona free-kick and Mirko Vucinic's cool finish appeared to have put the home side on their way to a victory.
But Danish striker Martin Jorgensen hauled Fiorentina back into the match with an angled drive, before Christian Maggio completed the Florence club's stirring comeback with the equaliser four minutes from time.
Lorenzo Stovini cleared Giorgio Chiellini's low cross but only as far as Maggio, who slammed the ball past Lecce keeper Vincenzo Sicignano.
Despite showing their fighting spirit, Florence remain sixth from bottom on 31 points, just five ahead of third-from-bottom Brescia. Three clubs will be relegated at the end of the season.
A point for Lecce left the Puglian side in ninth place on 36 points.
03/12/2005 21:51 GMT