Milan threw down the gauntlet to Juventus by winning by the same score at Fiorentina on Saturday, opening up a three point advantage on their championship rivals.

But Juventus responded with an equally narrow victory in Turin that would have been far easier had their strikers been more clinical in front of goal and Bologna keeper Gianluca Pagliuca not been in such irresistible form.

Juventus and Milan both have 76 points from their 34 matches played with four games of the season left.

Juve defender Fabio Cannavaro opened the scoring in the 18th minute, leaping high at the back post to head home Mauro Camoranesi's right-wing cross.

Juventus increased their lead six minutes later with an almost identical goal, but this time it was Marcelo Zalayeta's head that supplied the finish to Camoranesi's delivery.

Inter Milan strengthened their position in third place with a 2-0 home win over struggling Siena at the San Siro where an early Julio Cruz penalty and a Christian Vieri header secured the points.

Udinese reclaimed fourth spot after a 2-1 home win over bottom club Atalanta, while Sampdoria fell one place to fifth following their 2-2 draw at Messina.

Vincenzo Montella missed a late penalty as Roma failed to ease their relegation fears with a 2-2 home draw against fellow strugglers Brescia.

UEFA Cup semi-finalists Parma won a 10-goal thriller at home to Livorno that moved them out of the drop zone.