Filippo Inzaghi bagged a hat-trick as second-placed Juventus trounced Vicenza 4-0 to keep the pressure on Italian first division leaders AS Roma yesterday.
Juventus and Lazio, who thrashed high-flying Fiorentina 4-1, certainly impressed as they turned the screw on the longtime leaders who have wilted in recent weeks. But Roma beat Napoli 3-0 to show they can still cope with what looks like a three-horse race for the Scudetto.
It did not take Juventus long to assert control with Italian international striker Inzaghi giving them an early lead. He then set up Dutchman Edgar Davids for the second before scoring two more to complete his treble.
But Roma's result at home against Napoli ensures they are still three points clear of Juventus and six ahead of Lazio - Marco Delvecchio, Francesco Totti and Gabriel Batistuta all scoring.
Inter Milan eased the plight of their beleaguered coach Marco
Tardelli with a 1-0 defeat of lowly Bari at the San Siro, Christian Vieri on target. AC Milan had to settle for a 1-1 draw at struggling Brescia and Parma gave coach Arrigo Sacchi his first win since returning to the helm with Marco Di Vaio scoring both goals in a 2-0 win against Verona whose Romanian striker Adrian Mutu then missed a penalty.
Meanwhile, a late goal from Raul earned Real Madrid a 1-0 win over Valencia to put the Spanish giants seven points clear at the top of the Primera Liga race yesterday.
Raul pounced in the 83rd minute of a tight tussle at Valencia's Mestalla Stadium, prodding in the winner after goalkeeper Santiago Canizares could only parry a powerful header from Real's Fernando Morientes.
