Joy for Juve and Milan but Roma slip up

Juventus and AC Milan both recorded impressive victories to stay second and go third respectively in Serie A but AS Roma's five-game winning streak was brought to an abrupt halt following a 3-2 setback away to Calcio Catania.

Brazilian doubles
Milan trounced fellow UEFA Cup hopefuls Udinese Calcio 5-1 at San Siro with Brazilian duo Pato and Kaká both registering twice. The hosts had scored four by the break, Clarence Seedorf also finding the net, with a solitary Antonio Di Natale strike the only response from the visitors. Kaká rounded off the scoring seven minutes after the interval to confirm Udinese's sixth league loss in their last seven games.

Strong response
Juve started impressively in Bergamo against Atalanta BC and were two goals to the good by half-time. Alessandro Del Piero gave the visitors a 31st-minute lead and defender Nicola Legrottaglie doubled the advantage soon after. Veteran striker Christian Vieri replied for the hosts just after the break but Amauri made it 3-1 late on with his eleventh league goal of the campaign.

Masterful Morimoto
Roma, who like Juve drew English opposition in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round in the form of Arsenal FC, were three down at Catania by the 54th minute, Japanese forward Takayuki Morimoto scoring twice. Two goals inside five minutes from Mirko Vučinić and Jérémy Menez gave the Giallorossi hope, but the home side held on to collect the points.

Viola victorious
In the battle of two UEFA Cup contenders, ACF Fiorentina got the better of UC Sampdoria with Riccardo Montolivo scoring the game's only goal. That win took the Viola above SSC Napoli, who lost 1-0 at Torino FC. Genoa CFC deepened bottom side AC Chievo Verona's woe with a late winner while US Lecce and Cagliari Calcio had to settle for home points against Bologna FC and Reggina Calcio respectively.