Milan - Juventus beat AC Milan 3-2 Saturday in a spectacular classic Serie A tie that the Devils ended with 10 men. Milan veteran Filippo Inzaghi and Bosnian midfielder Hasan Salihamidzic scored a brace each in a thrilling game that weakened the Devils' chances to secure one of four Champions League berth.
Juve have a game in hand and remained third with a nine-point lead on fifth-place Milan, who lag four points behind Fiorentina.
Captain Alessandro Del Piero gave Juve a short-lived lead on 12 minutes with a precise flick by the far post off an assist from Mauro Camoranesi.
A minute after Del Piero beat the towering Zeljko Kalac from a very angled position, Inzaghi missed from close-range, aiming wide a low cross from the left from defender Giuseppe Favalli.
The former Juve striker, however, did not waste the two following chances to display his ruthlessness and reversed the score by the 31st minute with two easy flicks he added to the brace scored last weekend.
Brazil star Kaka squared from the left on 13 minutes for the veteran, who had an even easier job to lay in a pass from Daniele Bonera as the Juve defence botched their off-side trap.
Defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Zdenek Grygera missed for Juve before Gianluigi Buffon blocked a drive from Kaka on 27 minutes.
A more difficult save from the international goalkeeper was necessary when Kaka fired a smashing volley from the distance.
Australia's Kalac had a worse time on 45 minutes when he managed to parry a David Trezeguet header but was helpless on the close-range flick from Salihamidzic.
Juve had good chances after the break with Grygera watching Kalac fly to slap his fast drive on 52 minutes and defence substitute Guglielmo Stendardo missing a diving header on 68 minutes.
The game became an uphill struggle for Milan on 66 minutes as a rude foul committed by Bonera on Mohamed Sissoko was sanctioned with a red card.
Salihamidzic converted the advantage into a goal on 80 minutes nodding home a corner kick amidst a dithering defence.
In action earlier Saturday, Palermo edged Catania 1-0 through a late free kick from substitute Fabrizio Miccoli.
The title race remains an affair reserved for leaders Inter Milan and Roma, who trail four points adrift with six games left.
Both sides face difficult tasks Sunday, when Roma are away at Udinese and Inter play a late home game against fourth-place Fiorentina.
