Italy round-up: Juve take the reins

Juventus FC moved three points clear of Internazionale FC with a 3-0 win against their closest rivals at the Delle Alpi stadium on Sunday evening.

Early lead
An own goal from Guly got the home side on their way inside the first four minutes and although the Milan club enjoyed much of the pressure, counterattacking Juve were 2-0 up by half-time thanks to Pavel Nedved's left-foot strike on 34 minutes.

Camoranesi class
With Inter's Gabriel Batistuta and Christian Vieri out of sorts, Juventus always seemed in control and underlined their dominance with Mauro Camoranesi's 83rd-minute goal to wrap up three precious points.

Maldini own goal
Earlier in the day, AC Milan were held to a 3-3 draw at home by Atalanta BC. A Paolo Maldini own goal, as the defender mis-timed a clearance and sent the ball into his own net in the first minute, gave Atalanta a shock lead, and before the half-hour mark, Fausto Rossini scored twice to make the score 3-0.

Milan fight back
However, Milan pulled a goal back almost immediately, as Filippo Inzaghi scored after a perceptive through-ball from Clarence Seedorf, and the striker then earned a penalty on the stroke of half-time, but Rivaldo saw his spot-kick come back off the post.

Unable to find winner
Substitute Jan Dahl Tomasson made it 3-2 after 70 minutes, and Inzaghi brought Milan level with eleven minutes remaining but, despite constant pressure in the closing stages, the home side could not find a winning goal.

Late goal saves Lazio
Fourth-placed S.S. Lazio were also held, and needed an equaliser from defender Paolo Negro to salvage a 2-2 draw at AC Perugia. Perugia took the lead after 12 minutes with a penalty from Zé Maria, with Lazio drawing level through Bernardo Corradi. However, it was 2-1 three minutes before half-time as Perugia's Fabio Grosso headed in from a corner.

Chievo comeback
AC Chievo Verona recorded a 3-2 home win against Torino Calcio, who had led 2-1 at half-time thanks to goals from midfield players Vincenzo Sommese and Massimo Donati. However, second-half strikes from Federico Cossato and Lorenzo D'Anna turned the match in Chievo’s favour.

Como on the up
Torino slipped to the bottom of the table following Como Calcio's 1-0 win at Piacenza FC, as Nicola Amoruso's sixth-minute goal proved enough for the away side to secure a crucial win, while Reggina Calcio also secured an important win, 3-2 at home against Udinese Calcio

Roma recovery
Elsewhere, AS Roma's revival continued with a 3-1 home victory against Empoli FC, with Vincenzo Montella scoring twice.