Serie A leaders AS Roma defeated bogey team Lecce 1-0 yesterday to stay six points clear of second-placed Juventus, who prevailed by a similar scoreline at Bari. Roma did not break through until the 69th minute when Walter Samuel headed home a freekick but Juventus left it even later at Bari with substitute Alessandro Del Piero scoring after 81 minutes.

It was also a late, late, show from third-placed Lazio, whose Argentinian midfielder Diego Simeone scored against the run of play two minutes from time for another 1-0 win.