Juventus beat Roma, close in on second place

The win pushed Juve on to 47 points from 23 games and was a big favour to Serie A leaders Inter Milan, who earlier Saturday beat Livorno 2-0 thanks to a brace from Honduras striker David Suazo.

 The unbeaten title holders Inter have now 59 points and hold an 11-point lead on Roma with 15 games left. Roma and Juve are in a close race to secure second place, which grants direct access to the next Champions League.

 This season's European tournament resumes with its knock-out phase next week, with Inter and AC Milan playing away to English sides Liverpool and Arsenal, respectively, while Roma host Spanish giants Real Madrid.

 Juve's Rome-born coach Claudio Ranieri pulled no punches and put up front league top striker David Trezeguet, on 15 goals, Vincenzo Iaquinta and captain Del Piero.

 A hammering start from the hosts only produced a smashing drive from Czech veteran Pavel Nedved, which hit Roma's international Daniele De Rossi in the head bringing him to the ground.

 Roma gradually managed to ease the pressure and had a good chance on 17 minutes as Brazilian Mancini had a low drive weakened by a deflection from his captain Francesco Totti.

 On 30 minutes, a header from Del Piero off a Iaquinta cross found the hands of Alexander Doni well positioned to clutch the ball.

 A good chance went begging for Roma on 38 minutes as a Simone Perrotta shot flew wide due to a defender's deflection, but Juve came even closer one minute later through a spectacular volley from Iaquinta off an assist by Trezeguet.

 Roma's Brazilian custodian saved the shot with a prodigious dive on his left, but was stunned when Del Piero on 45 minutes drilled his smashing free kick by the same post.

 The flooring of Nedved by Philippe Mexes proved fateful for Roma as Del Piero lived up to his sharpshooter fame notching his 10th goal this season.

 The Rome side almost equalized one minute later as a clearance from Nicola Legrottaglie hit the post to the left of his goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

 Roma's chances after the break were a wide header from Mexes and the missed connection by an indifferent Totti with a cross from substitute Ludovic Giuly.

DPA