Milan surprised at Siena...

Juventus moved three points clear at the top of Serie A after rivals Milan fell to a shock 2-1 defeat at lowly Siena yesterday.

Juve put their Champions League exit at the hands of Liverpool in midweek behind them as a Zlatan Ibrahimovic hat-trick helped Fabio Capello's side to a 5-2 triumph over Lecce at the Delle Alpi stadium. A header by Siena's Francesco Cozza four minutes from time delivered Milan's first league defeat since January.

Juventus have 70 points with Milan on 67 and third-placed Inter, who beat Cagliari 2-0, are 11 points behind their city rivals. Juventus play Inter in Turin on Wednesday.

At the foot of the table, Fiorentina fell into the relegation zone as a 2-0 defeat at Livorno led their travelling supporters to call for the sacking of coach Dino Zoff.

After 13 Serie A and European matches without a loss Milan, who face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League semi-finals, were brought down to earth with a result that could prove vital in a tight two-horse title race.

Milan had an effort from Andriy Shevchenko ruled out in the first half but went ahead in the 63rd minute through Argentine Hernan Crespo, who drove through the legs of Siena goalkeeper Alex Manninger at the near post.

Gennaro Gattuso went close to making it 2-0 when he thundered a strike against the bar.

But Siena drew level in the 71st when former Italy striker Enrico Chiesa struck the post but reacted quickly to fire the rebound goalwards and Rui Costa's desperate attempt to clear on the line flew in off the post.

Milan poured forward in search of a winner but were caught out on the break when Giovanni Pasquale burst down the left flank and picked out Cozza who headed home at the back post.

Despite the setback Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti refused to criticise his team.

"We played well. We did everything we should have done and created a lot of chances. We could have wrapped it up when Gattuso hit the bar but after they equalised we went looking for the winner and got caught," he said.

Ancelotti said the three-point gap could easily be overturned by Milan.

"Earlier in the season we made up an eight-point deficit on Juventus in the space of seven days - I don't see why we can't do it with three points," he said.

Juve could ill-afford another setback after their elimination from Europe but nerves were jangling when Lecce went in front through Mirko Vucinic after just seven minutes.

Ghanaian midfielder Stephen Appiah brought some calm to the home supporters with his equaliser nine minutes later - a cool, chipped finish after springing the defence.

Two goals from Ibrahimovic before the break, both coming from slack marking in the Lecce defence, ensured Juve could enjoy the break and it was a cruise in the second half.

Pavel Nedved made it 4-1 with a great strike from outside the area in the 56th minute and Ibrahimovic got his hat-trick after a curling shot from the left with eight minutes remaining.

Samuel Dalla Bona's 89th-minute penalty was nothing more than a consolation for Lecce.

"We took our chances well and the result was emphatic and very pleasing," said Capello.

Goals from Inter's Brazilian Ze Maria and Nigerian Obafemi Martins against Cagliari ensured they remained on course for third place and a Champions League qualifying round spot.

Inter will be forced to play their first four games in Europe next season behind closed doors after their derby with Milan in the Champions League quarter-final was abandoned on Tuesday when fans threw flares on the pitch.

But there was a calm atmosphere against the Sardinians with those at the San Siro applauding a banner against violence.

Serie A

Bologna 1
Lazio 2
HT: 1-0. Att: 18,000

Brescia 1
Atalanta 0
HT: 0-0. Att: 7,500
Red card: Rivalta 90 (A)

Chievo 2
Parma 0
HT: 0-0. Att: 8,000

Inter 2
Cagliari 0
HT: 1-0. Att: 55,000

Juventus 5
Lecce 2
HT: 3-1. Att: 20,000

Livorno 2
Fiorentina 0
HT: 2-0. Att: 15,000

Siena 2
Milan 1
HT: 0-0. Att: 18,000

Played On Saturday

Messina 1
Udinese 0
HT: 0-0. Att: 32,000

Roma 1
Reggina 2
HT: 1-0. Att: 45,000

Sampdoria 1
Palermo 0
HT: 0-0. Att: 24,000

Leading Scorers

20 goals Montella (Roma)
16 goals Gilardino (Parma)
15 goals Adriano (Inter), Ibrahimovic (Juventus)
14 goals Esposito (Cagliari), Shevchenko (Milan), Toni (Palermo), Lucarelli (Livorno)

Next Fixtures
Wednesday (8.30 p.m.) Cagliari vs Lazio; Fiorentina vs Messina; Juventus vs Inter; Lecce vs Bologna; Milan vs Chievo; Palermo vs Brescia; Parma vs Sampdoria; Reggina vs Atalanta; Roma vs Siena; Udinese vs Livorno.

Serie C1(A)

Como vs Frosinone 1-2
Cremonese vs Fidelis Andria 4-1
Grosseto vs Lucchese 0-0
Mantova vs Spezia 0-1
Pisa vs Prato 1-2
Pistoiese vs Acireale 2-2
Pro Patria vs Pavia 3-3
Sangiovannese vs Torres 0-0
Vittoria vs Novara 2-2
Standings: Cremonese 67; Pavia 57; Frosinone 55; Grosseto, Mantova, Pistoiese 54; Spezia 46; Pisa, Pro Patria 42; Lumezzane, Sangiovannese 40; Torres 38; Lucchese 37; Acireale, Novara 33; Fidelis Andria 29; Vittoria 28; Prato 20; Como 19.
Note: Como deducted six points.

Serie C1(B)

Chieti vs Avellino 1-2
Fermana vs Vis Pesaro 2-1
Foggia vs Cittadella 1-0
Martina vs Giulianova 2-1
Padova vs Benevento 1-2
Rimini vs Reggiana 0-0
Sora vs Napoli 0-0
Teramo vs Lanciano 2-0
Spal vs Sambenedettese today

Standings: Rimini 62; Avellino 59; Napoli 53; Benevento 44; Padova, Reggiana 43; Lanciano, Sambenedettese 41; Foggia 39; Spal 38; Martina, Teramo 37; Fermana 35; Cittadella 34; Giulianova 29; Chieti, Sora 28; Vis Pesaro 20.

Note: Reggiana deducted three points; Sora deducted two points.