MILAN, Italy (AFP) — Mauro Icardi scored a hat-trick as Inter Milan kept pace with leaders Napoli with a 3-2 defeat of city rivals AC Milan, in a fiery, Serie A derby clash yesterday.

Inter skipper Icardi sealed victory from the spot in the final minute in front of 80,000 spectators at San Siro to complete his hat-trick after also scoring on 28 and 63 minutes.

Spanish forward Suso (36) and Giacomo Bonaventura (81) had twice put AC Milan back on level terms in the ‘Chinese’ derby between two clubs fuelled by multimillion dollar investments by their Asian owners.

With Juventus losing 1-0 to Roma on Saturday, Luciano Spalletti’s Inter are now alone in second place, within two points of Napoli who they face next weekend.

“Scoring three goals in a derby is something special,” said Icardi.

“The important thing is that Inter won. It’s too early to talk about a Scudetto challenge,” he continued.

Napoli maintained their perfect run of eight wins from eight games with Lorenzo Insigne scoring the only goal in a victory over Roma.

Juventus are third after Ciro Immobile’s second-half brace for Lazio condemned the reigning champions to a 1-2 defeat, their first at home in over two years.

Lazio are fourth, equal on 19 points with Juventus with Roma four points adrift in fifth.