Juve take lead in title race after beating Milan

Juventus took a big step towards a 28th Italian league title with a 1-0 victory over rivals Milan which moves them three points clear with three games remaining.

A 28th-minute header from French forward David Trezeguet, who glanced home an acrobatic overhead kick from Alessandro Del Piero, gave Juventus a deserved victory over the defending champions at the San Siro yesterday.

Juventus, coached by former Milan boss Fabio Capello, lead on 79 points with Milan on 76.

Milan, who play in the Champions League final on May 25, were second best for large parts of the game but were furious that referee Pierluigi Collina turned down an appeal for a penalty in the 75th minute when Cafu appeared to be pulled down by Gianluca Zambrotta.

Third-placed Inter won 3-0 at lowly Brescia with two goals from Nigerian Obafemi Martins but the battle for the fourth Champions League qualification slot remains tight with Udinese and Sampdoria winning to remain level on 59 points.

Sampdoria beat Lecce 3-0 in Genoa while a Vincenzo Iaquinta goal gave Udinese a 1-0 win away to Lazio.

Parma's battle against the drop was boosted with a 2-1 victory over Roma which moves them to four points clear of the relegation zone - level with crumbling Roma on 40 points.

Roma have not won in their last ten games, picking up just two draws.

Fiorentina also climbed out of the bottom three with a 2-1 win away to fellow strugglers Chievo - Fabrizio Miccoli and Valeri Bojinov on target for Dino Zoff's side.

Livorno, beaten 6-4 at Parma last week suffered another high scoring defeat with a 6-3 loss at home to Siena after having defender Fabio Galante sent off in the 18th minute.

Milan's defeat leaves Juventus in a strong position for the season's run-in with Capello's side enjoying an easier final three fixtures.

Juve are at home to Parma next Sunday and then face two mid-table teams, Livorno away and Cagliari at home.

On the basis of the evidence presented at the San Siro, Juve, with no Euro distractions, also look in better shape than Carlo Ancelotti's side.

After Trezeguet's opener, Juve looked far sharper than their opponents, who had been in Champions League action in midweek - getting through their semi-final to PSV Eindhoven on away goals despite a 3-1 defeat in the Netherlands.

Milan's best chance of an equaliser came 12 minutes into the second half when Andriy Shevchenko set up Filippo Inzaghi but the substitute, returning from injury, hesitated and was crowded out by Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and his defensive team-mate Zambrotta.

Juve went close to a second when Del Piero headed against the bar and then Fabio Cannavaro forced Dida into action with a firm header.

Then came Milan's claim for a penalty but their only other opportunities came when Shevchenko headed over the bar from a promising position while Zambrotta had to clear an Inzaghi header off the line.

'Not over yet' - Ancelotti

Ancelotti said the title was still within reach.

"Certainly it is now more difficult than it was before the game but it is not impossible," said Ancelotti.

"What we have to do now is to try and win the last three games and hope that Juventus slip up."

As well as the final three matches of the Serie A campaign - away to Lecce, at home to Palermo and then away to Udinese - Milan also have the Champions League final on May 25 against Liverpool in Istanbul.

Ancelotti refused to discuss the incident in the 75th minute when Cafu appeared to have been brought down by Zambrotta with the subsequent penalty appeal being waved away by Collina.

"I'm not getting involved in that discussion - now we have to look ahead," said the Milan coach. "Juve had their chances and they took them but we were in good health and we gave our all."

Serie A

Atalanta 2
Messina 1
HT: 0-1. Att: 12,000

Brescia 0
Inter 3
HT: 0-0. Att: 8,000

Cagliari 0
Palermo 0
Att: 13,000

Chievo 1
Fiorentina 2
HT: 0-1. Att: 9,000

Lazio 0
Udinese 1
HT: 0-0. Att: 34,000

Livorno 3
Siena 6
HT: 1-2. Att: 14,000

Milan 0
Juventus 1
HT: 0-1. Att: 80,000

Parma 2
Roma 1
HT: 0-1. Att: 15,000

Reggina 1
Bologna 1
HT: 1-1. Att: 14,500

Sampdoria 3
Lecce 0
HT: 2-0. Att: 23,000

Leading Scorers

22 goals Lucarelli (Livorno), Gilardino (Parma)
21 goals Montella (Roma)
17 goals Toni (Palermo)
16 goals Shevchenko (Milan)

Next Fixtures

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

Serie B

Salernitana vs AlbinoLeffe today

Serie C1(A)

Acireale vs Lumezzane 1-0; Como vs Pistoiese 1-1; Cremonese vs Pisa 2-1; F. Andria vs Vittoria 2-2; Frosinone vs Grosseto 0-1; Lucchese vs Mantova 0-2; Novara vs Sangiovannese 0-2; Prato vs Spezia 2-1; Torres vs Pro Patria 2-1.

Leading standings: Cremonese 71 (promoted); Mantova 64; Grosseto, Pavia 61; Frosinone 59; Pistoiese 56.

Serie C1(B)

Avellino vs Sora 1-0; Benevento vs Giulianova 0-0; Chieti vs Foggia 0-0; Cittadella vs Fermana 2-0; Napoli vs Rimini 1-1; Reggiana vs Spal 3-2; Samb. vs Martina 1-1; Teramo vs Padova 0-0; Vis Pesaro vs Lanciano 0-1.

Leading standings: Rimini 67; Avellino 64; Napoli 58; Samb. 51; Reggiana 50; Padova 48; Benevento, Lanciano 45.