Juve go eight points clear with Fiorentina win

Juventus opened up an eight-point lead at the top of Serie A after Mauro Camoranesi struck an 88th-minute winner in a 2-1 victory at Fiorentina yesterday. Juve have 39 points with Milan, who lost 2-1 at Chievo on Saturday, on 31 points and Fiorentina...

Juventus took the lead through French forward David Trezeguet but Fiorentina striker Giampaolo Pazzini equalised for the home side six minutes before the break.

Fabio Capello's side rode their luck at times with Fiorentina hitting the woodwork on three occasions, including a Luca Toni shot against the post in the 75th minute.

Camoranesi drove home the winner two minutes from the end of normal time after Treze-guet had outjumped a hesitating Giuseppe Pancaro to put the winger through on goal.

Juve's lead is the biggest any club has held at this stage in the season since Serie A switched to three points for a win in 1994.

With Juve having lost only once, it will require a major change in form to prevent the Turin side from winning their 29th title.

"We are having a great season, I am so pleased with the players' approach and character," said Capello, who was delighted the fixture passed without incident after the violence at Thursday's Italian Cup fixture between the two clubs.

"Today's was a fantastic game produced by the players and it was good to see people behaving in the stands," added the Juventus coach.

Fiorentina, the surprise package of the season who went into the game in third place, started well and Serie A's top scorer Toni headed against the bar in just the sixth minute.

Two minutes later, though, Juve had the lead after a goal on the break of impressive simplicity. Brazilian Emerson fed Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the right and the Swedish striker slipped the ball across the area to Trezeguet who tapped in.

Trezeguet shot just over the bar after another smooth, attacking move but the home side also went close when their Czech defender Tomas Ujfalusi rattled a 25-metre drive against the post.

The Florence side finally got their reward when left-back Manuel Pasqaul put over a great cross from the left and Pazzini met it at the near post and beat Christian Abbiati with a superb angled header.

The pace of the game eased off after the break but Fiorentina's lack of fortune struck them again in the 75th minute when Toni broke free and shot past the advancing Abbiati, only for the ball to strike the post.

It was poor defending from Pancaro, though, which allowed Camoranesi the opportunity to win the game and the Argentine-born winger took full advantage with a confident strike.

Despite the disappointment of the result, Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli, who this week signed a two-year extension to his contract, was full of compliments for his team.

"I was really pleased with the way we played but, against a team like that, it doesn't take much to finish you off," he said. "I think we deserved a draw out of the game, though.

"When you create chances like that against a team like Juventus, it shows me that we can still have a great season," added Prandelli.

Udinese, who face Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday, suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to fifth-placed Livorno who continued their excellent campaign.

An early own goal from Chris Obodo and a late Cristiano Lucarelli strike sealed victory for Roberto Donadoni's team.

In the late kick-off, Lecce cancelled a two-goal deficit at home against Roma to earn a point in a two-all draw.

In a lively match, the visitors took a double lead before the break following a cute Cassano lob and a Nonda drive from outside the box.

Lecce staged a comeback in the second half and drew level with goals from Cozzolino and a Vucinic penalty.

Serie A

Fiorentina 1
Juventus 2

Lazio 3
Siena 2

Lecce 2
Roma 2

Palermo 2
Cagliari 2

Reggina 2
Parma 1

Sampdoria 2
Empoli 0

Treviso 0
Messina 0

Udinese 0
Livorno 2

Played On Saturday
Chievo 2
Milan 1

Inter 1
Ascoli 0

Top Scorers

16 goals Toni (Fiorentina)

11 goals Trezeguet (Juventus)

9 goals Tavano (Empoli)

8 goals Chiesa (Siena), Bonazzoli (Sampdoria), Gilardino (Milan)

Next Fixtures

Wednesday (Coppa Italia): 6 p.m. Bari vs Palermo.

Thursday (Coppa Italia): 3 p.m. Lazio vs Cittadella; 6 p.m. Cagliari vs Sampdoria; 9 p.m. Napoli vs Roma.

Saturday: 6 p.m. Siena vs Empoli; 8.30 p.m. Fiorentina vs Treviso.

Sunday: 3 p.m. Ascoli vs Reggina; Juve vs Cagliari; Livorno vs Lazio; Messina vs Chievo; Parma vs Samp-doria; Roma vs Palermo; Udinese vs Lecce. 8.30 p.m. Inter vs Milan.

Serie B

Atalanta vs Catanzaro today

Serie C1(A)

Cittadella vs San Marino 0-0
Lumezzane vs Ravenna 2-0
Monza vs Genoa 0-0
Novara vs Giulianova pp
Pavia vs Padova 1-0

Salernitana vs Pizzighettone 1-0
Sambenedettese vs Pro Patria 3-3
Spezia vs Fermana 2-0
Teramo vs Pro Sesto 1-0
Leading standings: Genoa 29; Spezia 25; Teramo 24; Pavia 23; Padova 22; Pizzighettone 21; Monza 20.

Serie C1(B)

Foggia vs Lucchese 1-0
Frosinone vs Chieti 1-0
Grosseto vs Gela 2-1
Juve Stabia vs Manfredonia 0-2
Lanciano vs Acireale 1-1

Martina vs Torres 1-0
Perugia vs Napoli (Friday) 1-0
Pisa vs Pistoiese 0-0
Sangiovannese vs Massese 1-0
Leading standings: Napoli 29; Sangiovannese 27; Frosinone 26; Grosseto 24; Perugia 23; Lanciano 22; Gela 21.