Javier Zanetti's first-half tap-in and an own goal from Mirko Cudini put Inter in command at the San Siro, but Ascoli might have fared better had Michele Fini not missed a 65th minute penalty.

Captain Eugenio Corini and Cristian Zaccardo were Palermo's goalscorers in a comfortable win in Sicily for the league's surprise package.

Inter and Palermo are level on 24 points after 10 matches played, four clear of third-placed Roma who fought back from a goal down to win 3-1 at home to Fiorentina.

Brazilian Rodrigo Taddei scored twice for Roma after Daniele De Rossi had cancelled out Tomas Ujfalisi's opener.

Fiorentina, who started on minus 15 points for their role in the Italian match-fixing scandal, remain second from bottom on zero points.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini admitted Ascoli were tricky opponents.

"They are a team that plays well away from home and close you down quickly," he told Sky Sports Italia.

"We were too slow in the first 20-25 minutes, but overall I thought we fully deserved to win."

Palermo coach Francesco Guidolin was delighted to see his side keep a clean sheet after leaking 15 goals in their previous nine games.

"That was the most pleasing aspect and shows that we are learning fast," he said.

"We've let in too many goals lately, and this will strengthen our confidence."

Newly-promoted Atalanta claimed a major scalp by beating AC Milan in Bergamo.

Nicola Ventola put Atalanta ahead with a sweetly-struck half-volley shortly after half time, before Andrea Soncin scored in injury time with his first ever Serie A goal.

Weighed down by an eight-point penalty for match-fixing, AC Milan have won just once in their last seven matches and are 17 points off the pace.

Ivory Coast striker Ibrahima Bakayoko grabbed the winner for Livorno in their 1-0 win against Udinese which put them level on 16 points with Atalanta and Siena. Siena drew 2-2 with Parma on Saturday.

Chievo are still looking for their first win after being held to a goalless draw at home to Cagliari, while Torino against Messina and Empoli against Lazio both ended in 1-1 draws.

Inter took 41 minutes to break the deadlock against Ascoli.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic dribbled to the left by-line and cut the ball back for Hernan Crespo, and he knocked it back across the six-yard box for his Argentine compatriot Zanetti to slot home.

Inter then increased their lead eight minutes after the break.

Ibrahimovic sprung Ascoli's offside trap with a superbly-timed pass to set up Luis Figo, and his low cross, which was meant for Crespo, was turned into his own net by Cudini.

Ascoli could have reopened the contest when Maicon was judged to have handled Daniele Galloppa's shot, but Julio Cesar pulled off an excellent stop to keep out Fini's spot-kick.

In the second of Saturday's matches, Catania snatched a 1-0 win at Reggina.

Reggina remain bottom on minus three points having started on minus 15 points for their match-fixing involvement.