Capello, whose side face Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday, rested Alessandro Del Piero and Stephen Appiah, while Brazilian midfielder Emerson was suspended following his red card in Thursday's 2-0 home victory over Roma.

Wingbacks Gianluca Zambrotta and Jonathan Zebina were injured, so the Juve coach made five changes to the team that defeated his former club three days ago.

Defending champions AC Milan were hot on Juve's heels having won at Sampdoria on Saturday and moved to within two points of the pace-setters.

But even with numerous changes to the starting line-up, the 27-time champions rose to the challenge with goals from Marcelo Zalayeta, Pavel Nedved and Zlatan Ibrahimovic sealing their eighth league victory.

Juventus have 25 points from their nine matches played -- something no other Italian team has achieved

since three points were awarded for a win -- while second-placed AC Milan have 20.

"Playing so many games is difficult so rotation becomes a necessity, but those who were called up today did extremely well, even if they haven't been involved a great deal," Capello said, referring to the likes of Alessandro Birindelli, Gianluca Pessotto and Alessio Tacchinardi.

"Everyone on the pitch was very focused and that is the strength of this group. I'm very happy, even if we did give Chievo too many chances when we were 2-0 up."

Lecce held on to third spot despite being thumped 4-0 away to Fiorentina, where Nigerian international Cristian Obodo was on target twice.

It was the newly promoted Florence club's second win in a row since they sacked coach Emiliano Mondonico and lifted them up to sixth place on 13 points, behind Inter Milan on goal difference.

Sicilian side Messina ended a run of three straight defeats by coming from behind to beat local rivals Reggina 2-1.

Although not an authentic derby as such, the two towns are separated by the sea, the Messina Strait, and are only 40 kilometres apart.

Messina's win moved them up to fourth on 14 points, one behind Lecce.

Roma, whose team bus was pelted with eggs by their own fans venting their anger over the club's recent slide, gave their supporters something to cheer about with a 5-1 thrashing of Cagliari in the capital.

Livorno won their third game in a row, a 2-1 victory at home to Brescia moving the Tuscany club further away from the relegation zone.

Bottom club Atalanta drew 2-2 at fellow strugglers Parma, while Siena were held at home to Bologna.

In Sunday's late match, Udinese edged Palermo 1-0 in Udine where Stefano Mauri headed the only goal in the second half.

Udinese climbed up to 10th with 12 points, above Sampdoria and Lazio on goal difference, while Palermo, who were unbeaten in their first five matches, slipped to 15th.

Vincenzo Montella took his league tally to eight goals by netting twice for Roma in the final two minutes at the Olympic stadium.

Greek defender Traianos Dellas' diving header put Roma in front before Francesco Totti coverted a penalty, both goals coming inside the first six minutes.

Totti then missed a second spot-kick after David Suazo had pulled one back for the Sardinians.

Simone Perrotta grabbed Roma's third before Montella put the icing on the cake.

On Saturday, AC Milan defeat Sampdoria 1-0 in Genoa where Andriy Shevchenko scored the winner the day after becoming a father for the first time, while Inter Milan drew for the seventh time this season as Lazio snatched a point in a 1-1 draw at the San Siro.