By Alberto Cagliano Dec 14, 2008, 20:37 GMT
Rome - Brazilian striker Amauri notched a brace late Sunday to help Juventus beat AC Milan 4-2 to remain alone in second place six points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan, who earlier beat tail- enders Chievo by the same scoreline.
Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic also scored a brace to move the defending champions on to 39 points from 16 games, with Juve trailing on 33 and Napoli lying level with Milan on 30 after a 3-0 beating of Lecce on Saturday.
In pouring rain in Turin, Juve captain Alessandro Del Piero on 16 minutes converted a spot kick after being floored by Marek Jankulovski, but Milan almost levelled two minutes later as Massimo Ambrosini squandered an easy header before Alex Manninger.
Milan play maker Andrea Pirlo threatened with a nasty free kick on 21 minutes, 10 before Ronaldinho fed his Brazilian compatriot Pato for a flick into the empty net.
Juve, however, again seized the lead three minutes later through a header from defender Giorgio Chiellini off a corner kick and closed the first half on 3-1 with a majestic downward header from Amauri.
After a good start from the hosts, Ambrosini lucked out on 56 minutes as two defenders deflected his long-range drive to fool Manninger, but the Devils' efforts were blunted when Gianluca Zambrotta was sent off on 65 minutes with a second yellow card.
A classy exchange with Mohamed Sissoko set up Amauri for a second goal that on 69 minutes sank Milan's hopes and brought his goal tally to 10 goals next to Ibrahimovic.
Fifth-place Fiorentina beat Catania 2-0 through goals from Adrian Mutu and Alberto Gilardino, who drew level on 12 goals with top scorers Marco Di Vaio of Bologna and Genoa's Argentine Diego Milito.
Genoa and guests Atalanta are safe in mid-table after drawing 1-1 in a game that the hosts closed with 10 men against the nine-man Bergamo visitors.
An Antonio Di Natale brace was not enough for Udinese as Lazio rallied from three down to snatch a 3-3 draw in Udine, while Roma fought hard to prevail 3-2 at home to Cagliari.
Roma captain Francesco Totti put his team ahead, scoring his 170th goal in 405 Serie A games, and Montenegro striker Mirko Vucinic netted the winner after Cagliari took a 2-1 lead.
Palermo beat Siena 2-0, Sampdoria also won 2-0 away to Reggina and Bologna hammered Torino 5-2 on Saturday.
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