Italian League/AC Milan 0 Juventus 1: Juventus took a big step towards a 28th Italian league title with a 1-0 victory over rivals AC Milan which moves them three points clear with three games remaining.
A 28th-minute header from French forward David Trezeguet, who glanced home an acrobatic overhead kick from Alessandro Del Piero, gave Juventus a deserved victory over the defending champions at the San Siro yesterday.
Juventus, coached by former Milan boss Fabio Capello, lead on 79 points with Milan on 76.
Milan, who will face Liverpool in the Champions League final on May 25th, were second best for large parts of the game but were furious that referee Pierluigi Collina turned down an appeal for a penalty in the 75th minute when Cafu appeared to be pulled down by Gianluca Zambrotta.
Milan's defeat leaves Juventus in a strong position for the season's run-in with Capello's side enjoying an easier final three fixtures. Juve are at home to Parma next week and then face two mid-table teams, Livorno away and Cagliari at home. Milan are away to Lecce and then at home to a Palermo side fighting for a Uefa Cup slot before a very difficult final match away to Champions League qualification hopefuls Udinese.
On the basis of the evidence presented at the San Siro Juventus, with no European distractions, also look in better shape than Carlo Ancelotti's side.
After Trezeguet's opener, Juve looked far sharper than their opponents, who had been in Champions League action in midweek - getting through their semi-final to PSV Eindhoven on away goals despite a 3-1 defeat in the Netherlands.
Milan's best chance of an equaliser came 12 minutes into the second half when Andriy Shevchenko set up Filippo Inzaghi but the substitute hesitated and was crowded out by goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and Zambrotta.
Juve went close to a second when Del Piero headed against the crossbar and then defender Fabio Cannavaro forced Dida into action with a firm header.
Then came Milan's claim for a penalty but their only other opportunities came when Shevchenko headed over the bar from a promising position while Zambrotta had to clear an Inzaghi header off the line.
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said the Serie A title was still within reach despite the defeat.
"Certainly it is now more difficult than it was before the game but it is not impossible," he said. "What we have to do now is to try and win the last three games and hope that Juventus slip up."
Milan captain Paolo Maldini agreed with his coach that the battle for the "scudetto" remained open. "It is not finished," he said. "Sure, the win gives them an undeniable advantage . . . on paper they have an easier run-in than we do but nothing is certain yet."
