Milan loss leaves Juventus clear

European Round-up/SERIE A: Juventus moved three points clear at the top of Serie A after rivals AC Milan fell to a shock 2-1 defeat at lowly Siena yesterday.

Juventus put their Champions League exit at the hands of Liverpool in midweek behind them as a Zlatan Ibrahimovic hat-trick helped Fabio Capello's side to a 5-2 triumph over Lecce at the Delle Alpi stadium.

A header by Siena's Francesco Cozza four minutes from time delivered Milan's first league defeat since January.

Juventus have 70 points with AC Milan on 67 and third-placed Inter Milan, who beat Cagliari 2-0, 11 points behind their city rivals. Juventus play Inter in Turin on Wednesday.

After 13 Serie A and European matches without a loss Milan, who face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League semi-finals, were brought down to earth with a result that could prove vital in a tight two-horse title race.

Milan had an effort from Andriy Shevchenko ruled out in the first half but went ahead in the 63rd minute through Hernan Crespo, who drove through the legs of Siena goalkeeper Alex Manninger at the near post.

But Siena drew level in the 71st when former Italy striker Enrico Chiesa struck the post but reacted quickly to fire the rebound goalwards and Rui Costa's desperate attempt to clear on the line flew in off the post.

Milan poured forward in search of a winner but were caught out on the break when Giovanni Pasquale burst down the left flank and picked out Cozza who headed home at the back post.

Despite the setback Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti refused to criticise his team.

"We played well. We did everything we should have done and created a lot of chances. We could have wrapped it up when Gennaro Gattuso hit the bar but after they equalised we went looking for the winner and got caught," he said.

PRIMERA LIGA: Two goals from Ronaldo kept Real Madrid's title hopes very much alive in a 2-0 win away to Levante yesterday but Barcelona maintained their six-point lead when they accounted for Getafe 2-0 later in the evening.

A Ronaldinho free-kick and a Ludovic Giuly strike secured the points for the leaders at the Nou Camp.

Earlier, superb performances from goalkeeper Iker Casillas and Ronaldo were crucial to seeing Madrid escape from their trip to the east coast unscathed and still in touching distance of Barcelona.

The visitors went ahead in the 37th minute and it was Ronaldo who got it but all the hard work was done by full-back Michel Salgado who surged into the area past two defenders before playing a low cross to the Brazilian striker who swivelled before shooting into the far corner.

As Levante pushed forward they left holes at the back and Ronaldo exploited them to the full in the 83rd minute. Picking the ball up on the halfway line he skimmed past Barbadilla Jesule and then shimmied past the goalkeeper before tapping in.