Milan: Genoa moved provisionally into third place in Serie A on Sunday as they cruised to a 3-0 win at Cesena, while AC Milan earned a 2-0 victory at home to Udinese in a match which saw both teams reduced to 10 men.
Genoa were up 2-0 after just eight minutes as Alessandro Matri scored one goal and set up the other. Cesena defender Massimo Volta turned into his own net shortly before halftime and both sides missed a penalty either side of the break.
Calls for goal-line technology may return after Milan were not given a goal following Adil Rami's header, although replays appeared to show that the referee was right in ruling the ball had not fully crossed the line.
Genoa moved ahead of Napoli and Sampdoria, who play on Monday.
League leader Juventus host Torino in a derby match later, before Roma entertain Inter Milan.
Elsewhere, Mario Gomez broke his eight-month scoring drought to help Fiorentina beat Cagliari 4-0. Bottom club Parma are further in trouble after losing 2-1 at Palermo, while Empoli drew 0-0 against Atalanta.
Matri gave Genoa the lead after just five minutes, collecting Andrea Bertolacci's pass with his back to goal before turning and surging forward to drill into the bottom left corner.
He turned provider just three minutes later after a corner wasn't dealt with by Cesena and he back-heeled the ball for Luca Antonelli to slot home.
Genoa, who also saw Juraj Kucka hit the bar with a screamer, should have extended their lead when Stefano Lucchini was harshly penalised for handball but Matri's spot kick was saved by Nicola Leali.
The visitors did get a third when Nicolas Burdisso's shot was decisively deflected in off Volta's shoulder.
Cesena had the chance to get back into the match with an equally soft penalty, following Burdisso's nudge on Alejandro Rodriguez, but Emmanuel Cascione blasted it onto the crossbar.
Milan moved provisionally into sixth, two points behind Genoa.
There was huge debate in the 17th minute as Rami's header crashed off the upright and into the arms of Orestis Karnezis after appearing to have crossed the line.
The goal was not allowed and replays appeared to show the referee was right by a matter of millimeters.
San Siro fans are still aggrieved following a similar incident three seasons ago, when Sulley Muntari's header was not allowed in a 1-1 draw against Juventus.
Milan took the lead amid more controversy when Maurizio Domizzi was harshly sent off for a challenge on Keisuke Honda shortly after the hour mark. Menez tucked away the resulting penalty.
Milan were also reduced to 10 men shortly after when Michael Essien received a second yellow card but Menez doubled his tally, slaloming between defenders before cutting inside and curling into the near post.
There was more good news for Milan as Riccardo Montolivo came off the bench for his first appearance since breaking his left leg in a pre-World Cup friendly with Italy six months ago.
In Sardinia, the relief was palpable on Gomez's face when he finished off a counterattack in the 70th minute, ending his duck which stretched back to March.
Mati Fernandez had scored twice and Juan Cuadrado added a fourth.
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