Olivera saves Juve's blushes

By Paolo Corradini

AC Milan and Juventus FC both edged one-goal wins to remain at the Serie A summit and stretch the gap to third-placed FC Internazionale Milano to 16 points.

Kaká header
After scoring last-minute winners in three of their last five matches, Milan sealed victory against UC Sampdoria comparatively early as Kaká's 65th-minute header proved enough to earn the Serie A leaders their sixth successive win. The Brazilian playmaker rose unmarked to glance a header past Francesco Antonioli.

Last-gasp winner 
With Juve playing an evening game, the win briefly put Milan clear at the top of the table and they almost retained it as AC Chievo Verona held the Bianconeri at bay until the 87th minute. But substitute Ruben Olivera earned Fabio Capello's side a late win, and then promptly went from hero to villain as he was sent off 60 seconds later following a skirmish with Chievo defender Alessandro Potenza.

Di Michele hat-trick
Udinese Calcio ended a run of four games without a win in emphatic style against the side that began the day a point above them, US Città di Palermo. David Di Michele scored a hat-trick and Sulley Ali Muntari added another as the visitors hit four goals in a 25-minute spell either side of half-time. Mariano Nicolas Gonzales reduced the deficit with 20 minutes remaining but there was still time for Vincenzo Iaquinta to restore the four-goal cushion.

Roma reverse
Palermo slip to sixth, but remain five points clear of AS Roma after the capital club slumped to their third successive defeat against Cagliari Calcio. Gianfranco Zola, Mauro Esposito and David Suazo were all on target in a 3-0 win against a Roma side whose task became a hopeless one when midfield player Daniele Rossi was dismissed on 65 minutes.

Atalanta victory
At the other end of the table, bottom-side Atalanta BC registered only their fourth victory of the season with a 1-0 win against Parma FC. They remain rooted to the foot of Serie A, however, five points adrift of AC Siena after Massimo Maccarone's second goal for the club cancelled out Claudio Bellucci's first-half penalty to earn a 1-1 draw with Bologna FC.

Five-goal thriller
Elsewhere, goals from Filippo Cristante and Gaetano D'Agostino gave FC Messina Peloro a 2-0 derby win against Reggina Calcio, while AS Livorno Calcio came from behind to earn a crucial 3-2 victory at Brescia Calcio.