Juve edge towards title

In an action packed Sunday in Serie A, AC Milan beat Parma with little fuss while Juventus suffered a bit more but claimed three points against Palermo. The results mean that if the bianconeri win their next match they will be champions.

Neither Milan nor Juventus are letting up but with only one game left to play, time is running out for the championship challengers. Milan took the lead in the 29th minute when Ricky Kaka transformed a penalty.

The young Brazilian playmaker then picked out his compatriot Cafu with a silky smooth pass in 44th minute. The captain of the Brazilian national team made no mistake and struck it home to give Milan a 2-0 lead.

Parma thought they had got themselves back on track when Bernardo Corradi scored in the 54th minute but Clarence Seedorf was having none of it. The Dutchman, who incidentally will not be at next summer's World Cup, curled a cracking free kick into the net to restore Milan's two goal cushion.

A second goal on the day from Corradi was anecdotal. Milan had a job to do and they did it.

Proceedings in Turin were a bit more laborious. Juventus seemed content to drift along at 0-0 until news of Milan's opening goal reached them. The reaction was immediate with Pavel Nedved on the score sheet only seconds after Milan took the lead.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic decided that more than two months without scoring was more than enough and he remedied that with a goal in the 51st minute. Juventus looked to be in cruise control when Denis Godeas pulled one back.

Once they conceded the goal Juventus looked distinctly more nervous. Nevertheless they dug deep to secure the win. The end of the season is coming not a bit too soon for a side that looks as it falling apart at the seams. One point is all Juventus need to secure their 29th scudetto.

The fight for fourth spot between Fiorentina and AS Roma continues a pace with both sides notching up victories. Fiorentina ripped Reggina apart 5-2 with Luca Toni scoring his 29th and 30th goal in Serie A this season.

Roma, deprived of talisman Francesco Totti, who had been expected to make his return, nevertheless sealed the three points that keep their Champions League hopes alive. Damiano Tommasi scored the only goal of the game.

Other results included a 4-1 win for Lazio over Ascoli, a 2-1 for Empoli over Messina and a 2-0 victory for Udinese over Cagliari. There were 0-0 draws for Chievo against Lecce, Livorno against Sampdoria and a 1-1 draw for Inter Milan and Siena.