Del Piero keeps Juve clear

Alessandro Del Piero came off the bench to fire Juventus to victory over Udinese and maintain the champions’ eight-point lead at the top of Serie A.

Del Piero came on as a second-half substitute as Juve struggled to break down their opponents and in the 70th minute he struck the only goal of the game when he got on the end of a pass by Brazil international Emerson.

By that time, Udinese had been reduced to 10 men following Sulley Muntari’s dismissal eight minutes before the break.

Del Piero’s goal keeps Juve well clear of second-placed Inter Milan, who beat Chievo 1-0.

Julio Cruz scored the game’s solitary goal in the seventh minute, the striker reacting quickest after Luis Figo’s free-kick had cannoned back off the post.

Third-placed AC Milan are now 14 points adrift of Juve – and six behind Inter - after they could only manage a goalless draw at Lazio.

Fiorentina had Luca Toni to thank once again as they beat bottom side Lecce 1-0 to claw to within one point of Milan in fourth.