Juve keep pace with Milan on high-scoring day

Juventus kept pace with Milan in the Serie A title race with a 2-1 win over Bologna yesterday that left the two clubs level at the top before their head-to-head meeting on Sunday.

Goals from Fabio Cannavaro and Marcelo Zalayeta gave Fabio Capello's side a win which lifted them to 76 points and alongside Milan who beat Fiorentina 2-1 on Saturday.

Four rounds of games remain in the season and, if the teams remain level on points, they face a two-leg playoff.

Away from the title race, there was no shortage of goals with relegation threatened Parma beating Livorno 6-4 and Lecce defeating Lazio 5-3, four players scoring hat-tricks in those games.

Winger Mauro Camoranesi set up both goals for Juventus, the first coming when a cross by the Italy international was met by a powerful header from Cannavaro that put Juve in front.

Zalayeta's header from a Camoranesi free-kick made it 2-0 in the 24th minute but three minutes later a superb free-kick from Federico Giunti brought Bologna back in to the game.

Bologna almost snatched a late equaliser when Claudio Bellucci's low drive whistled into the side netting.

Parma's decision to rest striker Alberto Gilardino for their UEFA Cup semi-final against CSKA Moscow in midweek paid off handsomely as he scored four times in the win over Livorno, which put Parma two points clear of the relegation zone.

In a remarkable match, Cristiano Lucarelli scored all four goals for Livorno but was not the only man to score a hat-trick away from home and still end up on the losing side.

Tommaso Rocchi scored all three goals for Lazio in their defeat at Lecce. On a high-scoring day in Serie A, Serbian striker Mirko Vucinic scored three for Lecce.

Lazio had Brazilian Cesar sent off in the 48th minute while Lecce's former Chelsea midfielder Samuele Dalla Bona was dismissed in the 66th minute.

Roma's winless run was extended to nine matches as they drew 2-2 at home to Brescia, Vincenzo Montella having a late penalty saved which left Roma just five points away from the relegation zone.

Third-placed Inter beat Siena 2-0 with a penalty from Argentine forward Julio Ricardo Cruz and a Christian Vieri goal.

Sampdoria and Udinese now share fourth place, which brings a spot in the qualifying round of the Champions League, after Samp were held to a 2-2 draw in Sicily against Messina.

Udinese beat bottom club Atalanta 2-1, moving them level with Samp on 56 points.

As with the title battle, teams finishing on level points for European qualification positions at the end of the season will play off - goal difference does not apply in Serie A.

Sixth-placed Palermo, hoping for a place in the UEFA Cup next season, were held to a 2-2 draw by relegation strugglers Chievo last night.

Serie A

Inter 2
Siena 0
HT: 2-0. Att: 50,000

Juventus 2
Bologna 1
HT: 2-1. Att: 22,000

Lecce 5
Lazio 3
HT: 2-1. Att: 13,000

Messina 2
Sampdoria 2
HT: 1-1. Att: 29,000

Palermo 2
Chievo 2
HT: 2-1. Att: 33,000

Parma 6
Livorno 4
HT: 3-2. Att: 13,000

Roma 2
Brescia 2
HT: 1-0. Att: 40,000

Udinese 2
Atalanta 1
HT: 2-1. Att: 15,000

Played On Saturday
Cagliari 1
Reggina 1

Fiorentina 1
Milan 2

Leading Scorers
21 goals Montella (Roma), Gilardino (Parma)
20 goals Lucarelli (Livorno)
17 goals Toni (Palermo)
16 goals Shevchenko (Milan)
15 goals Adriano (Inter), Ibrahimovic (Juventus), Esposito (Cagliari), Vucinic (Lecce)

Next Fixtures
Sunday: 3 p.m. Atalanta vs Messina; Brescia vs Inter; Cagliari vs Palermo; Chievo vs Fiorentina; Lazio vs Udinese; Livorno vs Siena; Milan vs Juventus; Reggina vs Bologna; Parma vs Roma; Sampdoria vs Lecce.

Serie B

Catanzaro vs Empoli today

Serie C1(A)

Como vs Novara 2-0
Grosseto vs Cremonese 2-2
Lumezzane vs Pavia 0-0
Mantova vs Torres 3-0
Pistoiese vs Frosinone 1-2
Pro Patria vs Prato 2-1
Sangiovannese vs Lucchese 0-1
Spezia vs F. Andria 0-0
Vittoria vs Acireale 0-0
Leading standings: Cremonese 68 (promoted); Mantova, Pavia 61; Frosinone 59; Grosseto 58; Pistoiese 55.

Serie C1(B)

Fermana vs Avellino 2-2
Foggia vs Teramo 2-2
Giulianova vs V. Pesaro 1-1
Lanciano vs Cittadella 1-1
Martina vs Napoli 1-1
Padova vs Reggiana 0-0
Rimini vs Benevento 4-0
Sora vs Sambenedettese 1-2
Spal vs Chieti 1-1
Leading standings: Rimini 66; Avellino 61; Napoli 57; Sambenedettese 50; Padova, Reggiana 47; Benevento 44; Lanciano 42; Foggia, Spal 40.