Roma defeat hands Juventus third straight title

Juventus have retained the Serie A title without kicking a ball after closest pursuers AS Roma had their nine-match winning sequence punctured by relegation-threatened Calcio Catania.

Two Mariano Izco goals in the opening 34 minutes gave Catania a firm platform, and although Francesco Totti then chipped into the deficit, second-half strikes from Gonzalo Bergessio and Pablo Barrientos extinguished the Giallorossi's slim hopes of snatching the title. They now lie eight points behind Juve with two games remaining, and the Bianconeri will celebrate their third straight Italian crown at home to Atalanta BC on Monday.

Elsewhere, AC Milan prevailed 1-0 at home against derby rivals FC Internazionale Milano, with Nigel de Jong notching the all-important goal on 65 minutes, while Udinese Calcio won 5-3 against AS Livorno Calcio, who have replaced Catania at the foot of the table. Seven of the eight strikes arrived in an opening period in which Antonio Di Natale registered twice after missing from the spot.

AC Chievo Verona lie two points outside the drop zone, meanwhile, having lost striker Sergio Pellissier to a red card during a 1-0 home defeat by sixth-placed Torino FC. As for Parma FC, they beat UC Sampdoria 2-0, Antonio Cassano and Ezequiel Schelotto weighing in with the goals on a day when Genoa CFC were held to a goalless draw by fourth-from-bottom Bologna FC.