Dazzling Del Piero shatters Inter

Juventus took a huge step towards the Serie A championship when Alessandro Del Piero's late free-kick sealed a dramatic 2-1 win away at FC Internazionale Milano. The victory puts them twelve points clear of both Inter and AC Milan with thirteen matches remaining, making them massive favourites to defend the title they won last year.

Precise free-kick
Del Piero settled the match in the 85th minute, dispatching the set-piece after a foul on Pavel Nedvěd. Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimović had given Juve the lead just after the hour, before Walter Samuel headed the home side level. Alvaro Recoba nearly rescued a point for Inter with a free-kick of his own in added time, but Gianluigi Buffon produced an excellent save to touch it onto the post.

Inzaghi hat-trick
Earlier, Filippo Inzaghi hit a hat-trick as AC Milan moved up to second with a 4-1 win at Reggina Calcio. The Italian international brought Milan level on 14 minutes after Carlos Paredes had given the home side the lead. Alberto Gilardino added a second eight minutes before the break and Inzaghi rounded off the win with two second-half strikes, completing his hat-trick in added time.

Roma run
AS Roma closed in on the fourth UEFA Champions League position as they defeated AC Siena 2-0, their ninth consecutive league win. Goals from Mancini and Daniele De Rossi were enough to bring Roma to within two points of fourth-placed ACF Fiorentina, who were defeated by two Cristiano Lucarelli goals at AC Livorno Calcio.

Barzagli winner
Andrea Barzagli struck late as US Città di Palermo won 1-0 away against Empoli FC, while UC Sampdoria triumphed 4-2 in an absorbing encounter against FC Messina Peloro. Elsewhere, there were goalless draws between Cagliari Calcio and US Lecce, and Parma FC and Ascoli Calcio 1898.