Inter Milan's Mauro Icardi (L) celebrates with his team mate Fredy Guarin after scoring against Juventus during their Italian Serie A soccer match at the Juventus stadium in Turin January 6, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

MILAN - Serie A leaders Juventus were held to a 1-1 draw by Inter Milan who hit back through a clinical Mauro Icardi strike after conceding an early Carlos Tevez goal on Tuesday.

Second-placed AS Roma cut the gap to one point with a 1-0 win at Udinese, although the hosts claimed that Davide Astori's header never crossed the line after it bounced down off the crossbar.

Gianfranco Zola's Serie A coaching career got off to a miserable start when his Cagliari side were thumped 5-0 at Palermo.

Germany forward Mario Gomez missed a penalty and Fiorentina had two men sent off in a 1-0 defeat at bottom club Parma while a spectacular goal by Simone Zaza, who met a corner with a full-blooded volley, gave Sassuolo a shock 2-1 win at AC Milan.

Two goals from Argentina forward Gonzalo Higuain took his tally to nine and helped Napoli win 4-1 at relegation-threatened Cesena, keeping them joint third with Lazio who beat Sampdoria 3-0 on Monday.

Jose Callejon also scored and Daniele Capelli turned Marek Hamsik's shot into his own goal.

Titleholders Juventus lead with 40 points from 17 games with Roma on 39 and Lazio and Napoli on 30.

Tevez gave Juventus a fifth-minute lead with his 11th goal of the season as the hosts dominated the first half.