Juventus beat Siena to maintain lead

Serie A leaders Juventus maintained their eight-point cushion at the top of the division with a 2-0 win over Siena yesterday.

The Italian champions now have 46 points from 17 matches. Inter remained their closest challenger on 38 points after racking up a sixth consecutive Serie A victory by crushing Empoli 4-1.

Milan, one point further back in third, also enjoyed an impressive 3-0 win at Livorno. It was the Tuscan side's first home defeat of the season.

Fiorentina completed a clean sweep for the division's top four clubs with an edgy 1-0 win over Palermo to rise to 36 points.

Having looked unusually vulnerable during a 1-1 draw against Lazio on Saturday, Juventus's players were keen to stamp their authority on the championship.

Fabio Cannavaro gave them the ideal start, heading in from a corner in the 13th minute.

Juve continued to dominate possession, though Siena created a few chances of their own, the best of which came just before half-time when former Juve defender Igor Tudor narrowly failed to connect with a cross in front of goal.

David Trezeguet wrapped up the win nine minutes after the restart when he ran on to a Mauro Camoranesi chip, rounded the keeper and finished into an empty net.

Juve's win also guaranteed them the title of "winter champions", awarded to the team who lead Serie A at the midway point of the season, with two games in hand.

At the San Siro, Inter showed the same killer instincts that helped put four goals past Reggina at the weekend, going ahead after just four minutes when Empoli keeper parried an Esteban Cambiasso shot into the path of Adriano, who was left with an easy close-range finish.

The Brazilian striker's contribution to Inter's win was cut short 10 minutes later, when he briefly lost consciousness following a clash of heads with Andrea Raggi.

His substitute, Julio Cruz, kept Inter on the right track, however, firing in their second goal from the edge of the area just before half-time.

Ighli Vannucchi pulled one back for the visitors, but goals by the in-form Luis Figo and Obafemi Martins re-established Inter's dominance.

While Inter versus Empoli promised to be a mismatch even before a ball had been kicked, Milan's visit to Livorno was tipped to provide an upset.

Milan had lost four of their eight away games prior to visiting Livorno and were playing a team whose excellent home record - played eight, won six, lost none - suggested that three points would be hard to come by.

Livorno started brightly and created the first good chance, Cristiano Lucarelli heading the ball over an open goal after a defensive mixup between Dida and Dario Simic.

Milan were showing only flashes of their usual slick passing game, but in the 23rd minute Kaka and Andriy Shevchenko combined to set up Alberto Gilardino who beat keeper Marco Amelia.

Milan upped the pressure in the second half. Fabio Galante cleared a Gilardino header off the line shortly after the break, but could not prevent the 23-year-old striker grabbing his second goal. Shevchenko got the goal he deserved in the 71st minute, heading home from Pirlo's free-kick.

Serie A

Ascoli 1
Treviso 0

Fiorentina 1
Palermo 0

Inter 4
Empoli 1

Juventus 2
Siena 0

Lecce 0
Lazio 0

Livorno 0
Milan 3

Messina 1
Reggina 1

Parma 1
Cagliari 0

Roma 4
Chievo 0

Udinese 2
Sampdoria 0

Top Scorers

16 goals Toni (Fiorentina)

15 goals Trezeguet (Juventus)

11 goals Gilardino (Milan)

10 goals Adriano (Inter)

Next Fixtures

January 7: Reggina vs Fiorentina; Palermo vs Juventus.

January 8: Cagliari vs Udinese; Chievo vs Lecce; Empoli vs Messina; Lazio vs Ascoli; Milan vs Parma; Sampdoria vs Livorno; Siena vs Inter; Treviso vs Roma.

Serie B

Played Yesterday
Arezzo vs Piacenza 1-0
Pescara vs Mantova 2-1

Serie C1(A)

Fermana vs Lumezzane 2-1
Genoa vs Teramo 0-0
Giulianova vs Monza 1-1
Padova vs Sambenedettese 1-0
Pizzighettone vs Cittadella 1-1

Pro Patria vs Pavia 1-1
Pro Sesto vs Salernitana 0-2
Ravenna vs Spezia 2-0
San Marino vs Novara 0-1
Leading standings: Genoa 31; Spezia 29; Padova, Pavia ,Teramo 28; Pizzighettone 24; Monza 23; Salernitana 22; Cittadella, Giulianova, Novara 21.

Serie C1(B)

Acireale vs Grosseto 1-0
Chieti vs Pisa 1-0
Gela vs Juve Stabia 0-0
Lucchese vs Sangiovannese 0-0
Manfredonia vs Perugia 2-0

Massese vs Frosinone 0-1
Napoli vs Lanciano 3-0
Pistoiese vs Martina 1-0
Torres vs Foggia 1-1
Leading standings: Napoli 35; Frosinone 30; Sangiovannese 29; Perugia 26; Gela, Grosseto 25; Torres 24; Manfredonia 23; Lanciano 22; Acireale 21.