Juve win battle of the titans

Juventus beat defending champions AC Milan 1-0 in the top-of-the-table showdown at the San Siro to take a giant stride towards the Scudetto on Sunday.

Both teams had started the match level at the top of Serie A but David Trezeguet’s first-half goal means Juve have now taken a three-point lead with three matches left to play this season.

The match, probably the last major occasion to be refereed by Pierluigi Collina, had a note of controversy to it.

Twice, Milan appealed for a penalty – first when Cafu was pulled back by Gianluca Zambrotta in the area and then when Fabio Cannavaro blocked a goalbound Cafu shot with his elbow.

However, Collina, the most famous official on the planet and the man who handled the 2002 World Cup final, ruled in favour of Juve on both occasions.

Elsewhere, Internazionale beat Brescia 3-0 with two goals from Obafemi Martins and one from Christian Vieri.

The duel between Sampdoria and Udinese for the fourth and final Champions League spot remains too close to call.

Samp dispatched Lecce 3-0 with strikes from Aimo Diana, Vitali Kutuzov and substitute Mark Edusei, while Udinese also maintained their challenge with a 1-0 win at Lazio, courtesy of Vincenzo Iaquinta’s goal.

Roma’s worrying slide towards the relegation zone continued with a 2-1 defeat at Parma.

Antonio Cassano put the Eternal City club ahead before Domenico Morfeo and Alberto Gilardino, from the penalty spot, turned the match around.

Fiorentina boosted their survival bid with a 2-1 win at Chievo.

Livorno striker Christiano Lucarelli has the unusual experience of scoring six goals in two matches and finishing on the losing side both times.

Last week he scored four in a 6-4 defeat at Parma. This week he got two - Corrado Colombo managed the other – in another spanking, this time 6-3 at the hands of Siena.

Siena’s goals were scored by Stefano Argilli, Enrico Chiesa, Simone Vergassola (two) and Massimo Maccarone (two).

Bottom club Atalanta kept their slender hopes alive with a 2-1 win at home to Messina.

Riccardo Zampagna put the Sicilians ahead before goals from Adriano Pereira and Antonio Bernardini ensured the Bergamo side prevailed.

Reggina snatched a 1-1 draw at home to Bologna, who took the lead through Claudio Bellucci before Felipe Ricardo Esteves equalised.

The match between Cagliari and Palermo finished goalless.