The Brazil international has been linked with a move away from the San Siro, with top European clubs, including Manchester City, who is keen to acquire the 27-year-old's services.

"We will do all that is possible and impossible to resist temptation," Galliani said to Gazzetta dello Sport. "Thiago Silva is happy to remain in Milan."

"He has a contract until 2016."

Silva is also a reported target of Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

"There is a true siege for him," Galliani said. "It seems every club wants him, rich clubs and their owners."

Silva will be in action in London this northern summer, with the central defender set to play at the Olympics with Brazil.

"Thiago asked and obtained the authorisation from us to go to the Olympics," Galliani said.

"We evaluated that it's better for us to have a player who is happy rather than unhappy."

Silva joined Milan in 2009 from Fluminense, after previous unsuccessful spells in Europe with Porto and Dynamo Moscow.

He made 27 league appearances for Milan this season.

The Brazilian's current deal with Lyon expires next month and he is set to join the Serie A outfit this northern summer on a free transfer.

"All that is missing is the signature but Ederson will be a Lazio player," Ederson's agent Antonio Caliendo said to Italian radio station Mana Nana Sport.

"Lazio president (Claudio) Lotito has been interested in him for five years.

"His future will be at Lazio even though he has received offers from Brazil.

"I will soon meet up again with Lazio and I hope the signatures will then follow."

The 26-year-old joined Lyon from Nice in 2008 and scored two goals in 14 league appearances for the Ligue 1 side this season.

Lazio finished fourth in Serie A and will compete in next season's UEFA Europa League.

The Argentine forward is set to join the Nerazzurri in a reported 11 million euros ($14.2 million) transfer deal.

"Palacio was one of the players that asked us at the end of the season to be transferred," Preziosi said to Sky Italia. "We have already reached an agreement with Inter.

"Inter tried to acquire him in the past two years.

"This deal has been a good transaction for both clubs as well as for the player, whose wages have doubled."

Palacio, 30, came close to joining Inter last summer but Genoa turned down all bids for the former Boca Juniors player.

The South American, who scored 19 goals in 32 league games this season, is under contract with the Grifoni for a further two years.

The Uruguay international is a reported target of several top European clubs, including Manchester City, after another excellent campaign with the Serie A outfit.

Cavani was instrumental in Napoli's fifth-placed finish this season, scoring 23 goals in 35 league appearances.

"If we receive a mega offer for Cavani then I will not be able to hold back," De Laurentiis said to Gazzetta dello Sport.

"For now, no club has offered me the money I'm asking for."

Napoli slapped a 100 million euros ($130 million) price tag on Cavani last year and the 25-year-old was strongly linked to Inter Milan, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.

The South American player is under contract with Napoli until June 2015.

The 27-year-old Silva is under contract with the Rossoneri until June 2016 and is also a reported target of Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

"Neither I nor Thiago have had contacts with Manchester City or Barcelona," Silva's agent Paulo Tonietto said to www.calciomercato.it. "His preference is certainly Milan.

"Only the club executives of Milan can decide whether to sell the player.

"Right now the rumours circulating regarding his future are simply media speculation."

Silva joined Milan in 2009 from Fluminense after previous unsuccessful spells in Europe with Porto and Dynamo Moscow.

He made 27 league appearances for Milan this season.

Montella has been strongly linked with a return to Roma this nortehrn summer to replace Luis Enrique after the Spaniard announced he would not continue in charge despite having one year left on his contract.

Reports in Rome claim the Eternal City giant is willing to offer Montella a two-year deal with an optional third year.

"Montella is our coach and he is under contract until next year," Pulvirenti said to Gazzetta dello Sport. "I hope I have been very clear."

Montella guided Roma to sixth spot in Serie A in 2010-2011, having taken over as caretaker boss in the February, but was not offered a contract extension to remain at the Stadio Olimpico.

He joined Catania last summer and led them to a respectable 11th-placed finish this season, while Roma ended the campaign outside of the European places in seventh.

Sweden striker Ibrahimovic and Brazil centre-half Silva have both been linked with Manchester City since the Serie A season finished but Allegri is confident the pair will still be at the San Siro beyond the northern summer.

"The club and the president are keen to maintain AC Milan at a high level," Allegri told the AC Milan television station.

"Ibrahimovic and Thiago will remain here.

"Thiago is young and Ibrahimovic can also give a lot.

"They are two champions on which Milan can build its basis for the future.

"The club is only working on replacing those players that have left."

Ibrahimovic, 30, divides opinion but his record is impressive - he was the top scorer in the Italian top flight last season with 28 goals in 31 games. He is under contract at Milan until June 2015.

Twenty-seven-year-old Silva, whose deal runs until June 2016, has emerged as one of the best central defenders in Europe and has also been linked with Barcelona and Paris St Germain.

Mancini met with Milan Vice President Adriano Galliani at the Italian club's headquarters but the former Inter Milan coach said it was just a courtesy visit.

"Milan fans can stay calm," Mancini said, before adding, "Ibrahimovic is a great champion."

The pair spent two years together at Inter after Mancini signed Ibrahimovic in 2006.

Ibrahimovic was Serie A's top goal scorer last season with 28 goals.

The 30-year-old Sweden captain recently said he wants to stay at Milan until his contract ends in 2014 but the club was forced last week to deny reports of a fallout with coach Massimiliano Allegri.

The 37-year-old will leave the Bianconeri on the expiry of his contract on June 30, but a fairytale ending in his last outing failed to transpire as Juve fell to a 2-0 defeat to Napoli in the Coppa Italia final.

Del Piero, who made his Juventus debut in September 1993 and went on to score 289 goals in 705 appearances, had the significant consolation of playing a part in the club's unbeaten Serie A title success and expressed no regrets as his time in Turin came to an end.

"This year was simply amazing, and plenty of different emotions have characterised recent weeks," Del Piero said on juventus.com.

"Obviously we're disappointed for the missed chance to lift the Coppa Italia, but this team experienced an exceptional season.

"We haven't had the icing on the cake, but we've tasted that cake in any case."

Del Piero played 68 minutes of the final before being substituted, and the former Italy international left the pitch to a standing ovation at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.

"I'd like to thank everybody for what we've achieved this year and what I've achieved in my career," added Del Piero, who earlier this month marked his final league appearance for Juve with a goal in a 3-1 win over Atalanta.

"When I left the pitch, I was disappointed because we were one goal down, but I also was very proud of the affection that the public showed."

Del Piero leaves Juventus boasting a raft of playing honours, among them six league titles, a Champions League win and a Coppa Italia triumph.

He has been strongly linked with a move to Major League Soccer and has expressed interest in playing for a club in England, but is in no hurry to decide on his future anytime soon.

"Now I go on holidays and then I'll turn over a new leaf," he said.

An Edinson Cavani penalty put Napoli ahead after 63 minutes, with Marek Hamsik ensuring victory seven minutes from time at the Stadio Olimpico as Napoli won its first silverware since claiming the Serie A title in 1990.

Juventus, who recently lifted the Scudetto after going through the entire Serie A campaign unbeaten, just fell short in its bid to complete a faultless double in Alessandro Del Piero's last game for the Bianconeri.

"I am delighted, because it seemed impossible to beat Juve this year as they had never lost," Mazzarri told reporters.

"The whole team has done something extraordinary in this period.

"Cavani, [Ezequiel] Lavezzi, Hamsik are on everyone's lips, but it is the group that is exceptional and should be celebrated as a whole."

Napoli's on-loan striker Goran Pandev, a three-time Coppa Italia winner with Lazio and parent club Inter Milan, said that this latest victory in the competition was the sweetest.

"There is so much satisfaction," he said.

"For me this is the fourth Italian Cup win, but it is also the most beautiful.

"We deservedly won, against great opponents, and Naples, with all its fans, has deserved this success.

"We were the first to beat Juventus this year and this fills us with satisfaction."

Juventus coach Antonio Conte threw Del Piero into his starting XI for the final game of his illustrious career at the club, perhaps with one eye on a fairytale finish, but it was not to be.

His side's disappointment was completed when Fabio Quagliarella was dismissed late on, but the Juve coach refused to be too hard on his players after the defeat.

"I'm sorry about the result," said Conte. "I don't like losing and nobody should do either, especially when a trophy's at stake. We'll look to learn from these moments.

"However, we'll congratulate Napoli on its victory. We faced a strong team, who went out in the Champions League against the eventual winners.

"What remains is the fact that our team is extraordinary - that must always be kept in mind. I must thank all my players for what they've done, in particular Del Piero who, alongside [Gianluigi] Buffon and [Andrea] Pirlo, has been one of the benchmarks of this side.

"This is a young group, born from two seventh places, so it's done something extraordinary to win the championship. We must always keep in mind what we did to win."

The Rome-based club finished fourth, just two points behind Udinese, which has qualified for the UEFA Champions League play-off round.

Reja twice tried to walk away from Lazio this season but was persuaded to stay by president Claudio Lotito on both occasions.

But the 66-year-old would not be denied a third time and hinted that he may have stayed at the Stadio Olimpico had he managed to guide Lazio into the Champions League positions.

"My adventure at Lazio ends here," he told Cittaceleste.it. "President Lotito gave me his support and asked me to stay on.

"Even after my refusal, he invited me to reconsider and take a week to reflect. But I had already made my decision.

"It seems as if we have not done anything these past two years, even though we twice qualified for the Europa League.

"Of course, if we had hit our target of qualifying for the Champions League this year, things would have been different.

"We had several injuries, which made the season difficult, but it hurts to think that fourth place seems to be worthless.

"In addition the bid to strengthen in January went badly. After the transfer window, I found myself without five or six regulars because of drawn-out transfer negotiations which were never concluded."

Chelsea's interim boss Roberto Di Matteo, who played for Lazio between 1993 and 1996, and former Blues and Italy striker Gianfranco Zola are the early front-runners for the vacant hotseat.

The highly-rated Uruguay international is desperate to be part of London 2012 but his employer has thus far been reticent in giving him the green light.

Cavani, who is linked with a northern summer move to one of Europe's top clubs, has indicated he would be ready to challenge the club should they attempt to block his inclusion.

"I want to go to the Olympics in London. I have already expressed my desire (to go) in public," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I have discussed the issue of the Olympic Games with the club's leadership and I made it clear that my major interest is to join the squad.

"I've tried to simplify the path, (but) I am willing to fight to get the Games."

"The captain has extended his contract until June 30, 2013," the club said.

Ambrosini, 34, arrived in 1995 and has won two UEFA Champions Leagues and four Serie A titles among other trophies while also winning 35 caps, the last of which was back in 2008.

He did spend one season away from Milan, on loan to Vicenza during the 1997-98 campaign.

AC Milan finished second behind Juventus this season.

The 36-year-old's future is up in the air with his current deal with the Rossoneri outfit ending next month.

He does not want to call time on his career, though, telling Italian TV station LA 7: "I have taken a week to decide. I don't want to retire.

"I will play for another two or three years and I don't exclude anything, not even the possibility to remain at Milan."

Seedorf, a four-time UEFA Champions League winner, scored two goals in 18 league appearances for Milan this season.

The Dutchman joined the Serie A giant in 2002 from city rival Inter Milan.

Montella is the favourite to replace Luis Enrique after the Spaniard announced last week he would not continue in charge despite having one year left on his contract.

Reports in Rome claim the Eternal City giant is willing to offer Montella a two-year deal with an optional third year.

"I would be delighted if Montella returned," De Rossi said. "I always thought he was a good coach and his experience in Catania has confirmed that."

Montella guided Roma to end sixth in Serie A in 2010-2011, having taken over as caretaker boss in the February, but was not offered a contract extension to remain at the Stadio Olimpico.

He joined Catania last summer and led them to a respectable 11th-placed finish this season, while Roma finished outside of the European places in seventh.

The 60-year-old coach has been out of a job since being sacked by Inter Milan in March.

Fiorentina is looking for a new tactician after dismissing Delio Rossi earlier this month and Ranieri is interested.

"Right now there has only been a discussion with Fiorentina," Ranieri said to Corriere dello Sport.

"I know the (Fiorentina owners) Della Valle family want to build something important and I asked to meet with them."

Ranieri enjoyed a successful spell at Fiorentina in his four-year spell with the Tuscan club.

He guided the Viola to gain promotion to Italy's top flight in his first season in charge.

Under Ranieri, Fiorentina won the Coppa Italia and the Italian Supercup titles in 1996.

"I am as motivated now as I was the day I took over the responsibility of guiding Fiorentina back to Serie A," Ranieri said.

"I am very motivated.

"I'm just looking for an opportunity to prove it, perhaps in Florence, a city that loves football.

"I do have several offers from other clubs and I will evaluate them, although Florence remains in my heart."

After winning a string of titles under Roberto Mancini and Jose Mourinho, the Nerazzurri has been shut out in successive seasons.

And what makes this year's setback even worse is that the club will not compete in the Champions League in the 2012-13.

"We need to reflect on our campaign and understand where we have to improve," said Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni, who replaced Claudio Ranieri in March following his dismissal by the club.

"We are not satisfied with finishing sixth and we must improve."

The Nerazzurri lost 3-1 at Lazio to suffer its 14th defeat in Serie A and finish 26 points adrift of Italian champions Juventus.

Inter has at least secured a place in the preliminary round of the Europa League.

"Now we must prepare for an early start to the campaign," Stramaccioni said.

"We have managed to take a European spot after a difficult campaign and there is a great will to bounce back from a season like this one because a team and a club like this one deserve better.

"We are already working with the president and the club executives to construct a competitive team that can be at the level of our history."

Inter president Massimo Moratti has yet to confirm if Stramaccioni will coach the team next season.

"With regards to whether I will stay in charge, that is something that you have to ask Moratti," Stramaccioni said.

"He decides when to make the announcements."

The Serie A champions beat Atalanta 3-1 in Turin on the weekend to end an excellent campaign.

Coach Antonio Conte's Juventus finished four points clear of closest rivals AC Milan with 84 points from 38 games.

They joined Milan and Perugia as the only clubs in Serie A to have gone undefeated in a season.

"The invincibles," says Gazzetta dello Sport in its main headline, followed by a photograph of Del Piero lifting the Serie A trophy at the Juventus stadium.

The sports paper also described the scenes as Juventus displayed the trophy in an open bus tour around the city, writing: "Delirium in Turin, Juve celebrate the scudetto by beating Atalanta as well."

The Bianconeri showed few signs of weakness, winning 23 times while giving away just 20 goals in 38 games.

Del Piero scored against Atalanta in his last game for the Bianconeri at Juventus' stadium.

The veteran forward will end his 20-year union with Juve in next Sunday's Coppa Italia final against Napoli in Rome.

Turin-based sports newspaper dedicated its front page to the 37-year-old, showing a photograph of Del Piero raising the trophy while surrounded by his team-mates.

The publication's headline read: "Thank you Alex", followed by: "Del Piero scores against Atalanta before moving the fans at the Juventus stadium."

The 2006 World Cup winner, who holds the all-time goalscoring record at Juventus and is also the most capped player with 513 appearances, received a standing ovation from the Bianconeri fans that lasted several minutes.

"I will remember these moments and I will never stop thanking the fans," he said. "What I have seen in the eyes of our fans is beautiful.

"I have created a unique rapport with all the fans because of what we have gone through in the last few years, including a critical time in the history of Juve.

"I feel a bit of sadness but I will overcome it to be ready for Sunday's final."

Juventus was relegated to the second division and stripped of the 2005 and 2006 titles after being found guilty of match-fixing.

They returned to Italy's top flight immediately but only this season, when they opened its new Juventus stadium, did they return to the top.

Tuttosport quotes Juventus president Andrea Agnelli, who said of Del Piero: "He has been and will always be our captain."

Corriere dello Sport also led with the former Italy international.

A photograph of Del Piero lifting Juve's 28th league trophy was spread on its front page with the headline: "Champions of Italy... Alex Del Piero bids farewell as a man loved by everyone at the Juventus party."

Del Piero is set to move to Major League Soccer in the United States.

Reports in Italy claimed the weekend's 3-1 victory over Inter Milan could have been Reja's last game in charge, with the 66-year-old yet to sign a new deal with his current contract ending this summer.

"We will have a meeting with Reja in the next few days and make a decision," Lazio sporting director Igli Tare said to Corriere dello Sport.

"We must thank Reja for all the work he has done."

Lazio missed out on a third-place finish in Serie A after ending the campaign on 62 points, two adrift of Udinese.

Reja replaced Davide Ballardini at the helm of Lazio in 2009 and guided the team out of the relegation zone and into a mid-table finish.

Lazio, who finished fifth last term, will have to settle for Europa League football for the second consecutive season as Udinese will be playing in the Champions League preliminary round.

"Unfortunately, in the crucial stages of the season we lacked good fortune," Tare said.

"Next season we will try to be as competitive as we have been this term."

The Friuli outfit won 2-0 at Catania in the weekend's finale to edge Lazio into the vital third position.

"This is a great satisfaction for a small club like ours and for our city," Pozzo said. "We have 20% less capital with respect to other clubs.

"I have to congratulate our coach and our players for the results achieved in the last two years."

For the second consecutive year, Udinese took the last qualifying spot away from Lazio.

The triumph was Udinese's 18th win of the campaign and saw it finish on 64 points, two points clear of its closest rivals.

"I am happy because we managed an historic achievement at the end of an extraordinary campaign," Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin said.

"I thank my players. Nobody expected this and that perhaps made it even better than last year.

"The credit goes to my players, who overcame even the difficult moments."

Udinese captain Antonio Di Natale could not hide his delight as the experienced forward finished for a second consecutive year as the leading Italian scorer in Serie A.

Di Natale scored 23 league goals this campaign to propel Udinese into the top three.

"This is a splendid result for us," he said. "We conquered the Champions League for the second time in a row, overtaking teams like Lazio, Napoli and Inter Milan.

"We finished ahead of them in the table because we deserved it and did better.

"It is a great achievement and we must celebrate it.

"I am happy with my campaign."

The 34-year-old was included in Cesare Prandelli's 32-man preliminary squad for the Euro 2012.

Del Piero scored in his final Serie A match for Juve in Monday's (AEST) 3-1 success against Atalanta.

He captained the side for the last time in Juve's home stadium and when he was substituted midway through the second half, he was giving a rapturous reception by team-mates and fans alike.

He may yet play once more in next weekend's Italian Cup final against Napoli but after that, he will leave.

Although Juve has decided not to extend his current deal, 37-year-old Del Piero wants to keep going.

"I have my whole life to be (a club) official and I will do that," said Del Piero.

"I was born to play football, I'm fit and I want to continue doing so. England has a fantastic football climate but it's been 19 years since I've needed to think about a transfer."

Del Piero has been a bit-part player this season as others have been preferred to carry the flag but he says he has no problems with coach Antonio Conte, a former team-mate.

"We have an excellent relationship, I've known him for a long time. This year was not easy but I don't want to point fingers, I want to enjoy this moment," he added.

"The future is now."

Del Piero, who after 20 years' illustrious service will leave the Turin club on the expiry of his contract, slotted home Juve's second after Luca Marrone had opened the scoring.

Andrea Barzagli's penalty completed the victory for the host in stoppage time after Atalanta had been given late hope thanks to Stephan Lichtsteiner's own goal.

Juve won its 28th Scudetto last weekend and the celebrations intensified as Juve secured the result it needed to join Perugia and AC Milan as the only clubs to have gone undefeated through an entire Serie A season.

Juventus still has one more date in the diary this term - the Coppa Italia final against Napoli in Rome next weekend - where Del Piero will have chance to make another fitting farewell to the Turin faithful.

The 37-year-old is Juve's all-time record goalscorer with 289 - 188 of those in Serie A.

"The aim was to remain unbeaten and to celebrate with our own fans," said coach Antonio Conte.

"We managed that and that had never happened in a 20-team league. This is a legendary season because in the future no-one will ever be able to beat what we've done, only equal it.

"No-one ever gave us anything and that's reason for great pride.

"Del Piero played like a champion once again but I told him the season isn't over because he must be decisive again next Monday in the Italian Cup final against Napoli."

Filippo Inzaghi scored a late winner on his farewell appearance to earn AC Milan a 2-1 win against relegated Novara.

With Milan finishing runner-up in Serie A, veteran Inzaghi announced earlier this week he would leave the San Siro at the end of the season, along with Alessandro Nesta, Mark van Bommel and Gennaro Gattuso.

And the striker said his goodbyes to the Rossoneri fans with an 83rd-minute goal as Milan came from behind to win.

Santiago Garcia had earlier given Novara an unexpected lead, but that was cancelled out by Mathieu Flamini.

Antonio Di Natale and Diego Fabbrini scored as Udinese defeated Catania 2-0 to claim third place and with it a place in the Champions League qualifying round.

Di Natale grabbed the opener in the 20th minute with an angled shot in the box after an assist from Maurizio Domizzi.

The host should have equalised in the 37th minute when Mehdi Benatia fouled Andrea Catellani in the box but Alejandro Gomez fired the Catania spot-kick wide.

Udinese extended its lead in the 58th minute when Kwadwo Asamoah set up Fabbrini who hit a right-footed shot into the bottom-left corner.

Lazio beat Inter Milan 3-1 but its effort was in vain as Udinese's win denied the Roman outfit a shot at the Champions League.

Needing to prevail and for Udinese to lose, Lazio went behind on the stroke of half-time when Inter's Diego Milito scored from the penalty spot.

Libor Kozak equalised before the hour and team-mate Antonio Candreva put the host ahead four minutes later.

Inter almost drew level with nine minutes remaining after Lazio's Giuseppe Biava deflected visiting captain Javier Zanetti's cross towards the post.

Lazio made sure of victory when Stefano Mauri struck his team's third goal seconds from time.

Napoli also failed to earn a place in the UCL despite defeating Siena 2-1.

The win, secured thanks to a brace from defender Andrea Dossena, was rendered meaningless by Udinese's victory, with Walter Mazzarri's side having to settle for fifth spot and a place in the Europa League.

Mattia Destro scored Siena's consolation as it completed a successful season in 14th place.

At the other end of the table, Lecce was relegated to Serie B after a 1-0 defeat at Chievo.

Only a win would have given Serse Cosmi's side any chance of staying up, but even then, it was reliant on Genoa losing.

With Genoa winning 2-0 against Palermo, Lecce ended Chievo's spirited battle at the Stadio Bentegodi with a goal from Kamil Vacek in the 78th minute sealing their demise.

Genoa preserved their Serie A status behind closed doors at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, with second-half goals from Giuseppe Sculli and Alberto Gilardino enough to see off Palermo.

Simone Del Nero scored for the host in the ninth minute only for Bojan Krkic to equalise before the half-hour mark.

Erik Lamela put Roma in front for the first time in the 32nd minute and team-mate Daniele De Rossi made it 3-1 four minutes into the second half.

Mario Santana gave Cesena a late lifeline, but Roma held on to finish seventh in the table - level on 56 points with Parma, which ended the campaign with a 1-0 win at home to Bologna.

Jonathan Ludovic Biabiany scored the only goal after 37 minutes.

Fiorentina's wretched run at home continued after it ended the season with a disappointing goalless draw against Cagliari.

The Viola are now winless in six matches at the Artemio Franchi stadium - a run stretching back to 4 March - after its lacklustre showing.

And it could have been worse had goalkeeper Norberto Neto not pulled off a marvellous save to deny Radja Nainggolan in the closing stages.

Neto's stop also denied Cagliari from claiming a first win on the road since it beat Catania 1-0 on 4 December.

Enrique had already announced his decision to leave the Roman club earlier in the week after a difficult season, more so for the reaction from the local press than troubles on the pitch.

But now he says the experience, his first as a first team coach after three years coaching Barcelona B, has just been too much for him.

"I'm going because I'm tired, I've always given 110 per cent but I don't think I'm able to recover my strength before the beginning of next season," said Enrique.

"That's also why I know I won't coach anywhere else. I need to recover after this difficult but beautiful experience.

"I've used up all my energy to try to get results and I'm sorry that we didn't manage to get third place."

Although he has faced a lot of criticism this season from the press, Enrique does not believe it has been a failure.

"The team has improved a lot, the lads were committed and I have always defended them," he said.

"Although it is right to judge a coach on results I prefer one season with this intensity rather than three with less."

Milan will wave goodbye to stalwarts Filippo Inzaghi, Gennaro Gattuso and Alessandro Nesta on Monday (AEST) in its final game of the season against Novara.

Veteran Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel will also leave with Gianluca Zambrotta and Clarence Seedorf possibly also heading off.

It means Milan will need to rebuild and rejuvenate the team in the northern rsummer but one name already decided on is Montolivo, a regular midfield starter for Italy.

"Life goes on, tomorrow will be a melancholy day," said Allegri.

"We need to restart because Milan will go on without ever forgetting what those players have done.

"(Montolivo) has great qualities and excellent technique but first we'll think about ending the season.

"However, we will still be competitive, as we have been during the 25 years of (president Silvio) Berlusconi's reign."

Montolivo's transfer to Milan was no secret but Allegri refused to comment on other potential targets, such as Manchester City's errant forward Mario Balotelli.

Allegri did insist he had a fruitful conversation with Berlusconi and chief executive Adriano Galliani over dinner on Friday night, though.

Del Piero's 19-year stay with the Old Lady will come to an end this northern summer and coach Antonio Conte wants to give him a special send-off.

With the Serie A title already wrapped up and an Italian Cup final to come in a week's time, Del Piero will get the chance to say goodbye to the fans who have idolised him for the best part of the last two decades.

But Conte is still determined to preserve his team's unbeaten run this season.

"I will pick the best team to finish an historic season without a defeat," said Conte.

"If we manage to go the whole season without losing, others would be able to match us but no-one could beat us.

"(Del Piero) started against Notts County when we inaugurated the Juventus Stadium and he also started the first game of the season against Parma as captain.

"He will also start against Atalanta. It's something he's due, not for his career but for what he's done and what he still needs to do on Sunday."

It's not just Del Piero who will get a rare start, reserve goalkeeper Marco Storari will also be given the jersey ahead of Gianluigi Buffon.

However, for Conte there is no time to party and celebrate as he is already thinking about the future.

"This year has been a departure point, we still have great room (for improvement)," said Conte.

"We've only taken the first step, we have to keep going.

"If we're intelligent, we're at the beginning and we can start something important.

"We've had an exponential improvement physically and tactically from everyone.

"The players have guaranteed me maximum availability and a ferocious application, they want to make history."

The 34-year-old Kaladze, who is from Georgia, says venturing into politics after a 19-year career in football will be "the most important game of my life, for freedom and democracy in my country."

Kaladze currently plays for Genoa and also had spells at Dynamo Tbilisi and Dynamo Kyiv.

He was Georgia captain and had 84 appearances before his international retirement in December. He was named Georgian Footballer of the Year five times.

Kaladze won eight titles in nine seasons with Milan, including the Serie A title and two UEFA Champions League trophies. He also won the Georgian league five times and the Ukrainian championship three times.

The 35-year-old joins a queue of departing veteran stars including Alessandro Nesta, Filipo Inzaghi and Gennaro Gattuso, who will also leave the San Siro this summer.

Despite only joining the club in January last year, Van Bommel admitted his sadness at leaving Milan, saying he had decided to return to the Netherlands for family reasons.

"I'm leaving Milan. I was only here a year and a half so for me it's easier to say goodbye than players like Gattuso, Nesta and Inzaghi," he told Milan's official TV channel.

"That's the way life is - the time comes when you have to leave. When I arrived here, everyone told me this club is like a family and it's true, it is."

Van Bommel claimed he was set to sign a one-year deal with PSV, where he played for seven seasons before joining Barcelona in 2005.

"I will go back to Holland and I will play for PSV," he added.

"Maybe one day I'll return here (Milan) as a coach."

Van Bommel, who joined Milan from Bayern Munich, has won league titles in four different countries during his career, while he also lifted the 2006 Champions League with Barcelona.

The 34-year-old midfielder met chief executive Adriano Galliani for an hour on Friday and afterwards announced his departure.

Gattuso said he would play on, although he does not yet know where.

"The time has come to go my own way and leave space (in the squad) for others," said Gattuso.

"It's only a goodbye. I will do one year somewhere else and then we will see.

"I don't know where I will play yet. I don't have any offers at the moment, but I'll speak tomorrow (Saturday) in a press conference."

Gattuso said he wanted to stay but only as a regular starter and he added that he was interested in taking on some other role at Milan.

A couple of months ago, he said he would willingly play on for free but Milan has decided the time has come to rejuvenate its squad.

Gattuso's announcement comes only a day after centre-back Alessandro Nesta, 36, said he would leave the club at season's end, while striker Filippo Inzaghi, 38, is also departing.

Other veterans such as Clarence Seedorf, Massimo Ambrosini, Mario Yepes and Mark van Bommel all have contracts that end this season and will need to negotiate their futures.

At the end of last season, Andrea Pirlo left but he moved on to Juventus, where he became an indispensable part of its title-winning team.

Gattuso started his career at Perugia in 1995 before moving on to Rangers in Scotland for one year.

He left to join Salernitana and then moved to Milan in 1999, where he has been since.

The fiercely-combative midfielder won two UEFA Champions League crowns and two Serie A titles with Milan and was also a key member of Italy's 2006 FIFA World Cup-winning squad.

He has played only five times this season, in large part due to a debilitating eye problem he developed earlier in the campaign that kept him out for several months.

But even after he came back to fitness, he could not force his way into a midfield with the likes of Ambrosini, Van Bommel, Sulley Muntari and Antonio Nocerino ahead of him in the pecking order.

Juve has officially won 28 titles due to having been stripped of its 2005 and 2006 successes for match-fixing.

The club refused to acknowledge the punishment and insist it has won 30, but Blatter is having none of that.

"Congratulations for the 28th title, after nine years you are once again the best in Serie A. Well done," Blatter wrote in a letter intercepted by Italian media.

Juve claims it will put a third star on its shirts next season to mark 30 scudetto successes - in Italy, teams put a star on their shirts for every 10 titles won.

Having been stripped of its previous two, Juve's last official title was in 2003.

Luis Enrique's future had been up in the air in recent weeks with reports claiming the Spanish tactician would resign after Monday's (AEST) game at Cesena - the final game of the campaign.

"We already knew for some time that Luis Enrique would leave," Baldini told Italian TV station Sky TG 24.

"After the game against Fiorentina (25 April), he had expressed with certainty his intentions. He told us that the right day had arrived to take this decision.

"I asked him to continue until the end of the season.

"Luis Enrique will explain his decision better tomorrow but I believe that he has been physically consumed by the campaign and I don't think he will train again this year."

Luis Enrique, in his first season at the helm of Roma, is under contract with the Giallorossi for a further year.

The Romans have endured a disappointing campaign and will finish no higher than seventh place, thus failing to secure a European finish.

Roma has won just two of its last nine games and heada into this weekend's game at Cesena five points adrift of Napoli, which is fifth and holds the last Europa League qualifying spot.

"I don't think our project has failed," Baldini said."Ours is a football style that can be adapted to Italy.

"From the stats we can see that Roma are first in Serie A in terms of possession.

"We are in fact in the top places when it comes to quality football.

"Of course certain things must be corrected, as our results clearly point out.

"Perhaps our lack of consistency in results has given the idea that our project has failed but that is not the case."

Former Roma coach Vincenzo Montella, currently in charge of Catania, has been strongly linked with a return to the Giallorossi hotseat this summer.

Montella guided Roma to a sixth-placed finish in Serie A last term but was not offered a contract extension to remain at the Stadio Olimpico.

Former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is also a reported target to replace Luis Enrique.

"I can't say when will we name a new coach," Baldini said. "Since we have known about Luis's departure, we have thought about many individuals but we have not contacted anyone so far."

Traore, whose contract with Nancy expires at the end of the season, has signed a three-year deal with the Serie A runner-up.

In a statement on its website, Nancy says Traore signed his new deal in mid-April but waited until the French club was mathematically safe from relegation to announce his move.

Traore joined Nancy in 2009 and has scored 12 goals in 71 league games for the Ligue 1 club.

The 27-year-old Mali midfielder's last games for Nancy will be at home to St. Etienne and away to Lille.

The 36-year-old Nesta, who has spent 10 years at Milan, will play his last game for the club at home against Novara on Sunday (Monday AEST).

"This was my last season with Milan," Nesta said Thursday at a news conference.

"I've evaluated everything and the high pace of the Italian league, the Champions League and the Italian Cup means that I can't play all the time. And I'm not one to sit and wait on the bench.

"I would very happily go to the United States, it would be a good experience. It wouldn't be bad to cross the ocean. But until I have signed, I'm not going to say anything. But there are not other good and important opportunities."

Nesta helped Milan to two Serie A titles and two Champions League trophies. The defender also won the World Cup with Italy in 2006.

He spent nine seasons with Lazio, and also won the league with the Rome club.

Milan director Umberto Gandini tweeted: "Nesta leaves AC Milan after 10 years of successful and brilliant service. What a person, what a player! Wishing him well in his next job!!"

With one game remaining, Udinese is hoping to join Juventus and AC Milan in Europe's elite club competition.

The Friuli outfit is two points clear of fourth-placed Lazio, which hosts Inter Milan.

Udinese will have the edge in a head-to-head tie-breaker against Lazio should the sides finish the Serie A campaign level on points.

"We still need a point before we can celebrate," Udinese captain Antonio Di Natale said. "We need to get it against Catania, a team that is strong and has done well this season.

"We have plenty of motivation but we have to show it on the field."

If they do clinch third place, Di Natale says it will be a major success.

"It would be fantastic to secure qualification to the Champions League for the second consecutive season," he said. "It would be a great achievement for Udinese."

Fifth-placed Napoli's chances of finishing third are slim.

Walter Mazzarri's men need to beat Siena in Naples and not only hope that Udinese loses but that Lazio also fail to win against Inter.

Even before Juventus secured its 28th league crown last week, the Turin-based club was insisting it would soon be celebrating its 30th championship triumph.

After its decisive 2-0 win at Cagliari on Sunday, Juventus players drank from bottles of champagne brazenly labelled with the number 30. The club's official website also claims the team has won 30 Serie A titles.

Officially, though, Juve has won only 28 titles having been stripped of the two it won in 2005 and 2006 after its involvement in the "Calciopoli" match-fixing scandal which implicated a number of top referees.

Juventus president Andrea Agnelli, 37, has stoked the embers by promising "a surprise" would appear on next season's kit.

While some interpret that to mean it will appear with a third star on its club badge next season, Italian football federation (FIGC) chief Giancarlo Abete says he is unmoved.

"If it becomes a problem, the Federation will respond in accordance with the rules and the history of all clubs," he said.

French legend Michel Platini, the president of European football's ruling body UEFA and a former Juventus player in the 1980s, told the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper: "It's a problem for the Italians."

Some regard the campaign as an attempt by Agnelli, scion of the Fiat car dynasty who took over the club presidency from his father Umberto, to woo Juventus fans in what is only his second year in charge.

Others seem happy to accept the 2005-2006 sanctions as reality.

Juve coach Antonio Conte said: "How many titles? It's number one for me."

Veteran goalkeeper and team captain Gianluigi Buffon was more evasive, saying simply: "I don't want to talk about it."

Although Juve striker Alessandro Del Piero claimed: "... the star is in our hearts, we won these titles on the pitch", he admitted that "we have to respect the authorities' decision".

It was 37-year-old Del Piero's final season at the club.

The Turin giant was crowned champion last weekend and could finish with the Italian double as it is in the Coppa Italia final on May 19 against Napoli.

There are concerns among fans, however, that Juve, who was not involved in European competition this season, will struggle to cope on three fronts.

However, Agnelli has reassured supporters his team will continue to play at a high standard.

"We know where we have to intervene in order to maintain a competitive team in the future and to remain in the race for our objectives," Agnelli told www.juventus.it.

"We know that every year is a different story and we can't always win, but I can only predict our future to be a winning one.

"Juventus exists to win and this is a sweet sentence.

"It's beautiful to win and we work seven days a week for this to happen."

After disappointing seventh-placed finishes in the previous two campaigns, Juve has shown few weaknesses en-route to its first official scudetto since 2003.

It is unbeaten in the league and has collected 81 points in 37 games, four more than closest rival AC Milan heading into the final weekend.

If Juventus gets at least a point against Atalanta on Sunday in Turin, the club would join Perugia and AC Milan as the only outfits in Serie A to have gone undefeated in a given season.

"With one game to go we have the best defence, we are unbeaten and, above all, we are Italian champions," Agnelli said.

"This scudetto is the first dream that has materialised."

Juve was stripped of its 2005 and 2006 scudetti for its involvement in a match-fixing scandal that rocked Italy six years ago.

The club was also relegated to the second tier for the first time in its history as part of its punishment.

"For me this scudetto represents a rediscovered pride of the Juventus people," Agnelli said. "It was the first aim I had when I took over as president two years ago.

"When I arrived here, the situation was a difficult one from a club and sporting point of view.

"I wanted to bring the right people that had the right spirit to the club and it's thanks to them that we have arrived here."

One of those choices was to put former Juventus midfielder Antonio Conte in charge of the team this season.

"The coach has transmitted great determination, aggression and conviction to reach an objective that at the start of the season we could not even have hoped for," Agnelli said.

In a comprehensive 48-page list released by FIGC, 22 clubs were named along with 61 individuals that have been reported to the football authorities in connection with a match-fixing and betting investigation.

The other clubs named were: AlbinoLeffe, Ancona, Ascoli, Avesa, Cremonese, Empoli, Frosinone, Grosseto, Livorno, Modena, Monza, Padova, Pescara, Piacenza, Ravenna, Reggina, Rimini, Sampdoria and Spezia.

A statement from the FIGC read: "Regarding the investigation carried out by the magistrates of Cremona, the federal prosecutor has reported to the Disciplinary Commission 22 clubs, 61 people, of which 52 were active players at the time of the investigation, four were executives and three were registered as coaches."

The investigation has been carried out by magistrates of the northern Italian city of Cremona and its focus is on 33 games over the past two seasons, the majority of which were in Serie B.

However, matches played in the last two Coppa Italia tournaments are under scrutiny.

In an earlier investigation, 17 people were arrested by Italian police last year, including Atalanta captain Cristiano Doni.

Atalanta, which had been promoted to Serie A at the end of 2010-2011, began the current campaign with a six-point deduction as punishment for match-fixing.

Doni was banned from football for three and a half years by the FIGC's disciplinary committee.

The Slovak playmaker is a reported target of Chelsea, Manchester City and Paris SaintGermain but the 24-year-old has reiterated he is going nowhere.

Hamsik is under contract with Napoli until June 2016.

"My desire is to remain and win with the Napoli jersey," Hamsik told Italian newspaper Il Mattino.

Reports in Italy claimed Hamsik, who has scored nine goals in 36 league appearances for Napoli, could leave the San Paolo stadium this summer if his club fails to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season.

Napoli is three points behind Udinese, which holds the last Champions League qualifying spot heading into the final weekend in Serie A.

The Naples outfit must beat Siena and hope Udinese loses and Lazio fails to win their respective games in order to finish in the vital third position.

The Turin giant is looking to reinforce its attacking line with veteran forward Alessandro Del Piero set to leave the club next month and on-loan striker Marco Borriello expected to return to Roma in July.

"Van Persie is a great player," Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta told www.calciomercato.com.

"He is a complete player and would be useful to any team. But he still has one year left in his contract with Arsenal.

"We will try to put the icing on the cake this summer but the important thing is that the mix is good."

Van Persie leads the Barclays Premier League goalscoring chart with 30 so far this season.

Juve has been closely monitoring Liverpool striker Luis Suarez as well as Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain.

"Van Persie, Suarez or Higuain? They are three important players," Marotta said.

"In fantasy football we could have the three of them playing in the same line-up but in reality, it is different.

"If one of them arrives (here) is not because he will be the less talented as other things have to be taken into account, such as the financial aspect.

"Moreover, if (Real Madrid coach Jose) Mourinho does not want to sell Higuain it will be impossible for us to get him and we also have to take that into consideration."

The Mali international announced he will join the Rossoneri outfit on a free transfer from Nancy this northern summer.

"I am delighted to finally announce I'm going to sign for Milan," Traore told RMC Radio.

"It is an incredible feeling.

"I am signing for one of the top clubs in the world.

"I know there will be a lot of competition to play, which is only normal, but the motivation is there to continue to grow."

The 27-year-old joined Nancy from Amiens in 2009 and has scored five goals in 20 league matches for the Ligue 1 outfit this season.

The 34-year-old midfielder is out of contract this northern summer and is hoping to sit down with vice-president Adriano Galliani to discuss a new deal.

While Gattuso admits Milan could use some fresh blood in its ranks after missing out on this year's Serie A title to Juventus, the former Italy international will walk away from football if he is not part of head coach Massimiliano Allegri's plans next season.

"Even when you win there's always something to change in a team," he said. "The Milan team is a little old and something must be done.

"My future? We'll see. I will speak with Galliani.

"I want to play again and if not I'll stay at home with my children. For me it is important to have a contract so I can play and feel alive."

Milan's 4-2 defeat to city rival Inter meant it slipped four points behind Juventus, who won its first Serie A crown since 2003, with just one game to play.

Gattuso knows Milan was the architect of its own downfall but was quick to pay tribute to Juventus.

"Hats off to Juventus," he said. "They had a different mentality from ours and deserved the championship.

"But we could have done more and we got caught by a team that has grown in every game and has proved to be very tough.

"We have had many occasions that we have wasted."

The 36-year-old, who was promoted from youth team coach to guide the first team following the sacking of Claudio Ranieri in March, has led Inter to a 4-2 triumph over AC Milan in the derby.

The result lifted Inter level on 58 points with fifth-place Napoli, who holds the last UEFA Europa League qualifying spot, with one game left to play.

When asked if Stramaccioni deserved to remain in charge of the team in the future, Moratti said to www.inter.it: "Yes I believe so."

"In any case when we signed him in a gesture which he (Stramaccioni) considered to be mad, in reality, in my opinion, it was an intelligent solution and hence, I believe we can continue like this."

"He is a young guy that nevertheless seems to have an experience that allows him to do things well."

Inter has lost just one of its eight games under Stramaccioni, a 3-1 defeat at Parma on May 2.

The side ends its campaign at Lazio on Sunday.

The Bianconeri won 2-0 in Trieste over Cagliari to bring the scudetto to Turin for the first time since 2003.

Juve was stripped of its 2005 and 2006 scudetti for its involvement in a match-fixing scandal that rocked Italy six years ago.

The club was also relegated for the first time in its history to the second tier as part of its punishment.

"From paradise to hell and back to paradise," Agnelli said after the achievement.

Juve surpassed its pre-season aim of a top-three finish, which would qualify them for the Champions League.

It had failed to play European football after disappointing seventh-placed finishes in the previous two campaigns.

"It's extraordinary and fantastic," Juve coach Antonio Conte said. " We are delighted to have conquered an extraordinary campaign."

Juve has shown few signs of weakness en route to the scudetto.

It's unbeaten in the league and has collected 81 points in 37 games, four more than closest rivals AC Milan heading into the final weekend.

"Credit goes to my players and to the fans that have believed in us from the start," Conte said. "We have faced a very strong rival like Milan in the race for the title."

Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta says the 42-year-old Conte is the one who is most responsible for the team's impressive year.

The former Juve midfielder had led Siena in its promotion-winning campaign last year before being put in charge of the Turin giants last summer.

"This is everyone's scudetto but it is mainly Conte's scudetto," Marotta said. "Conte has been the added value of the squad.

"As a club, we have improved with respect to the work we carried out last season.

"There is no question that we merit this scudetto because we have done a great job.

"It is a historic scudetto."

If Juventus get at least a point against Atalanta next weekend in Turin, the club would join Perugia and AC Milan as the only outfits in Serie A to have gone undefeated in a given season.

"To end the campaign unbeaten would be something historic," Conte said. "To have taken positive results in 37 consecutive games in the league is something to be proud of."

The season can become even sweeter for Juventus as it is in the Coppa Italia final on May 19 against Napoli.

Juve clinched the Serie A title on Sunday after its win over Cagliari allied to Milan's 4-2 defeat against city rivals Inter handed it a four-point advantage with just one game remaining.

"It burns to lose the derby and to concede the Scudetto," Milan goalkeeper Marco Amelia told www.acmilan.com.

"It has been a difficult season, we have endured arduous times and taken false steps.

"Compliments to Juve.

"Now we must focus on the future."

Milan never recovered from some serious blows to its squad.

The biggest two setbacks were the loss of Italian striker Antonio Cassano for six months because of a heart condition, and the absence of Brazil forward Alexandre Pato for many games due to a myriad of muscular injuries.

Even so, the Rossoneri managed to pull seven points clear at the end of March and looked like a team that could go on to defend the title.

Juve, the early-season pace-setters, then reclaimed the lead two weeks later.

"Considering the problems that we have had, we have done well this season," Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said. "I want to thank my players.

"Juventus has had great year and they have deserved the league title because they have done so by taking many points.

"I thought that with respect to last year, more points would be needed to win the Scudetto and that was the case."

Sunday's triumph was Juve's 22nd of the campaign. The Bianconeri has collected 81 points in 37 games, four more than Milan, and is unbeaten so far.

Juve is the only top team Milan has failed to beat this season.

Unlike Milan, Juventus was not involved in European competition this season and that allowed Antonio Conte's side to focus on the domestic front.

In the 2012-13 campaign, both sides will compete in the Champions League and Allegri believes the additional competition will prove testing for Juve.

"Next season we will be again there fighting for the title," he said. "Moreover, next season unlike this one, Juve will be involved in the Champions League, a competition that has an impact on the domestic campaign.

"I am curious to see how they will react."

Milan, who hold a 16-point advantage over third-placed Udinese, entertain relegated Novara in its final game of the season.

The Turin giants' 2-0 win in Trieste over Cagliari coupled with AC Milan's 4-2 loss at Inter Milan secured the Serie A title for Antonio Conte's team with one round of games still to play.

Gazzetta dello Sport paid tribute to Juve as worthy winners, its main headline shouting: "Juve, it's yours!"

That is followed by a sub-headline that read, "Inter rolls over Milan and hands the Scudetto" with a photograph of the Juventus squad celebrating.

Corriere dello sport saluted the Bianconeri, showing a photograph of Juve's players on its front page with the headline: "Italian champions, Yes, Juve, yes!"

Sunday's victory was Juve's 22nd in 37 games, but all the more impressive is the fact that the Turin outfit has allowed just 19 goals so far this season.

Corriere hailed the Juve club president in its editorial titled "The merit of Andrea Agnelli."

The 36-year-old, son of the late Juventus president Umberto Agnelli, took the helm in 2010 and was responsible for putting former Bianconero player Conte in charge of the team last summer.

Moreover, he is credited with overseeing the club's transition to their new stadium, which opened this season.

Turin-based sports newspaper Tuttosport showed a photograph of 19 of Juve's squad members on its front page with the controversial headline "Juve 30" instead of 28, referring to the two Scudetti Juventus were stripped of as a consequence of the calciopoli scandal of 2006.

Tuttosport's editorial "Taking back history" focused on Juve's comeback following the difficult period which saw Italian giants demoted to the second division for its involvement in the match-fixing scandal.

That, coupled with AC Milan's 4-2 defeat by Inter Milan in their city derby, ensured Juve cannot be caught at the top of Serie A with one match to go.

According to the record books it is Juve's 28th title as it was stripped of the 2005 and 2006 wins for match-fixing.

But while general manager Giuseppe Marotta continued to insist Juve has won 30 league championships, Conte chose instead to take a diplomatic line.

"For me it's the first, the first I've won as coach," said the man who won five titles at Juve as a player.

"These are fantastic emotions. We really are happy. It's all down to the players but honour also goes to those who have been beaten. Milan were very strong opponents.

"When we trailed by a point I understood that my team was still full of energy, whereas (Milan) were a bit tired.

"Finishing the league season unbeaten would be something historic."

They have matched Milan's record 42-match unbeaten run in all competitions and if Juve avoids defeat in its final match of the season at home to Atalanta, it will surpass that.

But Marotta could not help but re-open old wounds by refusing to accept his team's punishment for having cheated its way to two titles.

"It's absolutely our 30th title. We've even written it on the labels of the (champagne) bottles because we've won 30," he told Sky Sport.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon thanked Inter for its helping hand.

"Thanks to the lads at Inter. I know (Inter captain) Javier Zanetti. Every so often I send him a message and this time I asked him for help, telling him not to make any jokes," said Buffon.

"This is my biggest joy after winning the World Cup in 2006 (with Italy).

"I've won five (titles), but if then I only get assigned three - amen, what can I do?"

For club captain Alessandro Del Piero it was the perfect way to finish his career at the club and he said this made up for being relegated with Juve over the Calciopoli match-fixing affair in 2006.

"Tonight is payback for many things, starting with what happened in 2006," he said.

"It's a strange epilogue (to his Juve career) but I'm enjoying it. After playing in Serie B, tonight has a special taste.

"It's a great story and I'm happy to be a part of it."

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri was gracious in defeat and insisted he was proud of his own players' efforts.

"They deserved to win a close title race between two sides who got a lot of points," he said.

"We have to accept the verdict from the pitch. Despite all the trials, tribulations and the many injuries, we fought right to the end.

"And next year we'll be there again, contenders as ever. Even tonight (Sunday), we did our best to try to win the derby."

And although his side missed out, Allegri pointed to the fact that Juve did not play in Europe this season, giving it more time to rest in between league encounters.

And that, he insisted, shows there is nothing between the teams.

"There's no gap, in my opinion. Next year Juve will have to play in the Champions League, which is a competition that has a big influence on your season.

"I'll be interested to see how they react to that."

The Swiss player clashed with Chile striker Mauricio Pinilla 22 minutes into the game. He was fully conscious as he was stretchered off the pitch.

Lichtsteiner was the only Juve player to miss the celebrations at the Trieste stadium where the Bianconeri won 2-0 to secure their 28th title with one game remaining.

Juventus beat Cagliari in Trieste while Milan went down 4-2 to its city rival in a thrilling San Siro derby.

The two results left the Turin side four points ahead of the Rossoneri with one game of the season to go.

It was Juve's first Scudetto since returning to the top flight of Italian football after the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal in 2006.

The unbeaten leader went into the penultimate round of fixtures with a one-point advantage over Milan and duly saw off Cagliari.

Mirko Vucinic opened the scoring with a neat finish in the sixth minute and the points were sealed when substitute Marco Borriello netted in the 71st minute, three minutes after coming on.

Events at the Meazza were far more dramatic as Milan fought back from conceding an early goal to Milito to lead 2-1 early in the second half thanks to a brace from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Swede levelled with a penalty a minute before the break, which replays showed should not have been awarded, and netted again a minute after the restart.

But Milito got his second from the spot in the 52nd minute and the referee gave a third penalty 10 minutes from time which the Argentine converted to complete his hat-trick.

Needing to win to take the title race to the final day because of its inferior head-to-head record with Juve, Milan knew the game was up and Maicon compounded its misery when he lashed home a superb fourth in the 87th minute.

Udinese moved into pole position for the third UEFA Champions League spot with a 2-0 home win over nine-man Genoa.

Juraj Kucka was sent off first in the 29th minute when he gave away a free-kick, from which Antonio Di Natale put Udinese in front.

Rodrigo Palacio saw red in the 38th minute and the home team controlled the rest of the game, adding a second through Antonio Floro Flores in the 66th minute.

Udinese is now two points ahead of Lazio, while Genoa needs a point from its final game of the season to be sure of survival.

Lazio won 2-0 at Atalanta to move up to fourth.

Libor Kozak fired home a first-half opener and Lorik Cana made the points safe in the 90th minute after the host had Guglielmo Stendardo sent off for dissent.

Napoli, though, saw its Champions League hopes all but disappear as it dropped to fifth with a 2-0 loss at Bologna.

Alessandro Diamanti opened the scoring in a first half otherwise dominated by the visitor and Matteo Rubin made the game safe in the second.

The match ended with red cards for Bologna's Archimede Morleo and Blerim Dzemaili for Napoli.

Palermo and Chievo, both free of relegation worries, played out an entertaining 4-4 draw that saw Matias Silvestre rescue a last-gasp point for the home side.

Palermo took the lead through Fabrizio Miccoli's 10th-minute penalty, before the same player doubled the advantage nine minutes later.

Sergio Pellissier pulled one back (27) and Fernando Uribe levelled by striking within 60 seconds, before Sequeira Luciano and Pellissier made it four.

But Palermo would not be denied and mounted a spirited fightback of its own, with Miccoli - with his hat-trick goal - and then Silvestre finding the target.

Parma won 2-0 at Siena thanks to second-half goals from Sebastian Giovinco and Sergio Floccari, while Marco Rigoni scored a hat-trick, including two penalties, to give Novara a 3-0 win over fellow relegated side Cesena.

Roma was looking for a win to improve its chances of playing in the UEFA Europa League next season but settled for a 2-2 draw as Totti hit the back of the net twice on his 500th appearance for the side.

Montella, who played alongside Totti at Roma and coached him at the club last season, said: "I give my compliments to Totti for reaching this landmark and for playing a great game."

Roma coach Luis Enrique had kind words for Montella, who was not given the opportunity to remain in charge at the end of last season by the club owners.

He instead went to Sicily and has earned high marks at the helm of Catania, a club that is in the top half of the Serie A table under his guidance.

"Catania deserved the draw and I compliment Montella and Catania, that have done an excellent job this season," Luis Enrique said. "As for us, our chances of playing in Europe have diminished and it's a pity."

Roma has not been in good form at the crucial stage of the season.

Its result extended the side's winless run to five games and left it three points behind Lazio, who plays at Atalanta today.

Enrique is frustrated by the team's inability to secure European football and he said everyone must share in the blame.

"We can improve in everything, from the coach to the players," he said. "A team that doesn't think of improving is dead."

As for his plans after the season, Enrique said: "The end of the season is the right time to evaluate the situation."

"I haven't decided my future. It's not an easy decision. I want to be fair with myself, the team, the club and the fans."

"I feel responsible and I want to talk to the club to understand what needs to be done, but I will do that when the time comes."

"Right now our focus is on our final game."

Roma ends its campaign at Cesena while Catania hosts Udinese.

Alessio Cerci put the Viola in front in the 35th minute and it proved enough despite both sides hitting the post before the finish.

Adem Ljajic was left out of the Viola side days after he was attacked by Delio Rossi during the midweek 2-2 draw with Novara, an incident that saw Rossi sacked hours afterwards.

Fiorentina was led in Lecce by team manager Vincenzo Guerini, who coached his first Serie A game in 14 years.

The result means Lecce could be relegated on Monday (AEST) if Genoa gets at least a point at Udinese.

Roma captain Francesco Totti scored twice and missed a penalty to deny former teammate and coach Vincenzo Montella victory on his return to the Stadio Olimpico in a 2-2 draw with Catania.

Totti missed an early penalty but had Roma in front early in the second half before goals from Francesco Lodi and Giovanni Marchese turned the game on its head.

But Totti's second with 13 minutes left at least salvaged a point to keep Roma in touch with the UEFA Europa League places despite a five-match winless run.

The 51-year-old attacked Fiorentina midfielder Adem Ljajic in the dugout after the player's apparent dissent at being substituted just 32 minutes into the match.

As a result, Rossi was dismissed by the Serie A club and has been banned for three months by the Italian football league.

"It's difficult to be here today," Rossi said in a press conference. "My adventure at Fiorentina has ended and I want to thank the (Fiorentina owners) Della Valle family for wishing me the best of luck in the future.

"I apologise for the episode.

"I have made a mistake and I will pay for it."

Rossi claimed he was provoked by the 21-year-old Ljajic but insists he should not have acted the way he did.

"I don't compromise on certain issues," the 51-year-old Rossi said. "I want respect for myself, for my work, for the team I coach and for my family.

"These issues were raised.

"My gesture was ugly, disgraceful and I am very saddened.

"I have never said that I am a saint but you can ask the children and all the players that I have coached in the past what type of person I am.

"I have never allowed myself to hit anyone, not even my children."

The former Palermo tactician, who replaced sacked Sinisa Mihajlovic in November, endured a difficult spell with the Viola.

Fiorentina has won just three of their last 11 games and has yet to guarantee Serie A safety.

Fiorentina has appointed team manager Vincenzo Guerini as Rossi's replacement until the end of the season.

Rossi has wished his former club the best of luck in the final two rounds of the campaign, with the Viola still needing a point to ensure Serie A safety.

"The job is almost done," he said. "I ask the fans to be close to the players and to the Della Valle family."

The 51-year-old struck Ljajic in the dugout after the player's apparent dissent at being substituted just 32 minutes into the match.

A statement from the Lega Serie A read: "The TV images have shown a thoughtless conduct, a violent and unpredictable one, and the seriousness of it cannot be lessened by the emotional tension generated by the delicate situation of the team."

Fiorentina dimissed Rossi hours after the incident and has appointed team manager Vincenzo Guerini as its coach until the end of the season.

Rossi was dismissed last night after he physically attacked his player Adem Ljajic during the 2-2 Serie A draw with Novara.

A statement from Fiorentina read: "Fiorentina announces that Vincenzo Guerini will guide the team in the final two games of the campaign.

"The club wishes to thank coach Delio Rossi and his staff for the work done in these months.

"Fiorentina also announces that it has opened a disciplinary case against the player, Adem Ljajic."

The attack came after Ljajic's apparent dissent at being substituted just 32 minutes into last night's match.

Rossi, who replaced sacked Sinisa Mihajlovic in November, has endured a difficult spell with the Viola.

Fiorentina has won just three of its last 11 games and the point against Novara left the Tuscan outfit six points clear of the relegation zone with two games left to play.

Guerini has not coached since guiding Catanzaro in the 2005-06 campaign but has plenty of experience.

The 58-year-old has led Bologna, Brescia, Ancona, Pisa and Napoli in the past.

Guerini's first game in charge will be on Saturday when Fiorentina takes on 18th-place Lecce at the Via del Mare stadium needing a point to confirm its Serie A status.

Juve seemed to be cruising to victory after an early goal while its relegation-threatened opponent was reduced to 10 men early in the second period.

But Andrea Bertolacci's goal five minutes from time snatched a draw and allowed Milan, 2-0 winner over Atalanta, to reduce its arrears.

And it was a horror mistake from Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon that gifted Lecce the equaliser, suggesting the Turin giant might just be cracking under the title pressure.

It ended Juve's eight-match winning run and gives Milan renewed hope of retaining its crown.

Juve was off to a dream start and it came from its fabled midfield.

The incomparable Andrea Pirlo was given too much time on the edge of the box and he put in a delightful chip over the defence for Claudio Marchisio to run onto and although his header looked tame, goalkeeper Massimiliano Benassi seemed to slip and the ball crept in.

Marchisio was next to send a clever chip over the top for Arturo Vidal to run onto but he swept his left foot shot just past the upright.

Any chance Lecce had of dragging itself back into the contest seemed to die 10 minutes into the second period when Juan Cuadrado was harshly sent off for a second booking.

Juve missed a hatful of chances but then Buffon's first touch from Andrea Barzagli's back-pass was horribly heavy and Bertolucci nipped in to rob him and score.

Milan started brightly and a pair of efforts from Kevin-Prince Boateng and one from Zlatan Ibrahimovic tested goalkeeper Andrea Consigli.

On nine minutes, Boateng found Muntari in the box, although the Ghana midfielder was perhaps offside, to poke in from close range.

It wasn't all one-way traffic as Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati was forced into a diving save to keep out German Denis's header.

Milan enjoyed the lion's share of chances but it had to wait until injury time to wrap up the points through Robinho.

Inter Milan's UEFA Champions League hopes took a knock as it lost 3-1 at Parma and now trails Napoli and Udinese by three points in the race for third.

Inter took the lead after just 13 minutes as Dejan Stankovic but two goals in two minutes turned the game on its head.

Sebastian Giovinco robbed Lucio and then nutmegged Walter Samuel to set up a tap-in for Jose Marques.

And moments later diminutive striker Giovinco nipped between the two centre-halves to run clear and fire in off the bar.

Former Inter forward Jonathan Biabiany sealed the points late on with the third.

Udinese matched Napoli's points with a 1-0 win at already relegated Cesena.

The only goal came when Danilo's miss-hit shot bobbled up and allowed Diego Fabbrini to arrive at the back stick to prod in.

Lazio is two points off third after it was held 1-1 at home to Siena while Novara joined Cesena in Serie B as it was relegated after a 2-2 draw at Fiorentina.

The attack came after the player's dissent at being substituted just 32 minutes into the match.

Fiorentina president Andrea Della Valle told Sky Sports in Italy, in quotes reported on the club's official website: "At the end of the match I saw pictures of what happened on the bench when Ljajic was substituted.

"I made the decision to sack the coach for an act that was very serious.

"Tomorrow morning we'll talk calmly.

"I'm sorry for the coach who is a good person and does not deserve it, but tonight he committed a serious act."

With his side losing 2-0 at home to the team second bottom in the league after just half an hour, Rossi decided to act and hauled off Serbian Ljajic to bring on Ruben Olivera.

As he went back to sit in the dug-out, Ljajic sarcastically applauded his coach's decision.

Rossi, 51, took exception to the player's reaction and leapt into the dug-out and seemed to punch Ljajic, 20, in the face.

The scene continued for several seconds with Rossi seemingly trying to attack his player as Fiorentina officials tried to separate the pair.

A couple of substitutes also tried to calm the situation, pulling Ljajic away from his irate coach.

The referee did not see the incident and neither coach nor player was punished.

But Fiorentina's fans showed exactly whose side they were on by jeering the young Serb with some shouting: "You're a gypsy".

Rossi, on the other hand, was cheered and clapped.

Della Valle was quoted in a statement released after the match and posted on the club's official website: "In a few seconds months of stress came out. I am sorry because the coach has never committed acts of this kind.

"For his own good to make him understand he has made a mistake I had to take this decision. No provocation justifies this reaction."

Della Valle confirmed Ljajic would also face action for his part in the incident.

But he said he would wait to announce who would take charge of the side for the rest of the season.

"Also for respect of the person with whom I believed in to reconstruct Fiorentina I will say nothing official until tomorrow," he added.

"Then you will know who will be given the reins of the team.

"We will also take proportionate measures against Ljajic.

"Rossi has not justified it to me but he is someone who has never done anything like this.

"I am sorry also that in the 10th year of my reign and with what he has brought - we have won at Milan and Roma and I believed this evening we would have achieved safety, certainly not that I would have to take a decision like this."

The victory maintained its grip on third place ahead of Wednesday's games when either Udinese, Internazionale or Lazio could join them.

With just two games to go, Napoli is ideally placed to qualify for Europe's premier club competition for the second time in a row.

Head-to-head records and not goal difference count if teams finish level on points at the season's end and Napoli has the edge on both Udinese and Inter, although not Lazio.

First half goals from Edinson Cavani and Marek Hamsik did the damage as Napoli showed it is past the blip that recently saw it lose three in a row and fail to win in five.

It almost got off to a flying start in the derby as Gokhan Inler thudded the post with a rising shot from outside the box.

But goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis had to come to its rescue moments later with two quick-fire saves, first with his knees from Josip Ilicic and then at full-stretch from Abel Hernandez's header.

However, Milan Milanovic inadvertently handled Goran Pandev's cross, the ball rebounding off his thigh onto his arm, and the referee pointed to the spot.

Palermo complained bitterly but Milanovic's arm clearly prevented the ball from going into the danger area and Cavani improved his poor penalty record this season - he has missed five out of nine - with the goal from the spot on 16 minutes.

Ilicic produced a moment of magic to skip away from Salvatore Aronica but Paolo Cannavaro came quickly across to snuff out the danger.

But Napoli doubled its advantage when Pandev's great vision released Hamsik to prod home from 15 yards.

Cavani could have had a second but failed to hit the target when escaping alone after the break.

Abel Hernandez thought he had reignited the fire in this clash between two cities known for their mafia connections but his strike was ruled out for offside.

Roma's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season all but mathematically died following a 0-0 draw at Chievo in sopping wet conditions in Verona.

Roma trails Napoli by six points with just two games left, giving it little realistic hope of closing that gap.

And in fairness it was lucky to come away from Verona with a point in a match made hugely difficult by wet conditions that affected the way the ball rolled and bounced.

Chievo had much the better of the chances and Roma barely troubled home goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino.

American international Michael Bradley put Alberto Paloschi in behind the Roma backline but Gianluca Curci saved his left-footed shot.

Finland midfielder Perparim Hetemaj was then put clean through by Rinaldo Cruzado. He tried to dink the ball over Curci but the pitch contributed in him failing to get the ball off the ground and the goalkeeper saved easily.

The host continued to be the more likely to create a chance after the break and Hetemaj curled a shot just past the post.

Roma substitute Simone Perrotta almost caught out Sorrentino with a looping header that beat the keeper but not the post.

According to El Confidencial, Mourinho asked Ibrahimovic five weeks ago: "Do you want to come to Real Madrid? If so, get ready. I will try and get you here."

He was said to have received a positive response, with Ibrahimovic rumoured to be keen to join the Portuguese boss’s mission of bringing Barcelona and coach Pep Guardiola back to the pack.

It was Guardiola who pushed Ibrahimovic out of the Nou Camp on loan to Milan in 2010, but with the news the star coach will leave the Catalan giant at the end of a disappointing season in which the UEFA Champions League and likely the Spanish Primera Division title have evaded him, Ibrahimovic’s motivation for revenge might have dwindled.

Mourinho would also likely have to exchange more than money for the Swede’s services, with Kaka and Gonzalo Higuain two names mooted to go the other, making any deal increasingly complex.

However, Mourinho knows how to get the best out of Ibrahimovic, and remains keen to make the signing, according to the reports inside Spain. The pair worked together in Serie A during 2008-2009, when Mourinho was then coach of his Inter Milan side, inspiring the 30-year-old striker to a tally of 29 goals.

A similarly positive relationship at Real Madrid could give Mourinho the extra firepower he needs to claim the UEFA Champions League next season, having lost at the semi-final stage to Bayern Munich this term.

The pair were involved in a bizarre incident in injury time when the Lazio defence stopped playing, with Udinese substitute Roberto Pereyra then scoring his team's second goal.

Dias motioned that he had heard the referee blow his whistle, and was subsequently sent off for protesting.

Their bans will make Lazio's pursuit of a third place finish and, with it, Champions League football next season all the more complicated.

The Rome side is lying sixth on goal difference on 55 points, the same total as the three clubs immediately above them.

Lazio is already missing injured playmaker Hernanes and German veteran striker Miroslav Klose for the Serie A run in.

In handing down the punishments the Italian Football League declared that Marchetti "had violently pushed the referee, putting his hand on the official's shoulder".

Dias for his part was sanctioned "for his aggressive and strongly intimidating behaviour towards the fourth official".

Referee Mauro Bergonzi explained that it was not he who had whistled but someone in the stands.

The new deal will see the Italy international remain with the Bianconeri until June 2015.

A statement from Juventus read: "Fabio Quagliarella will continue his adventure with Juventus for at least three further seasons.

"The striker has extended his contract for a further season with the Bianconeri club."

Quagliarella has scored four goals in 21 league appearances for Juve, who lead the Serie A standings with three rounds of games remaining.

The 28-year-old joined Juve in the summer of 2010 from Napoli.

Napoli currently hold the precious position but the race is wide open as it is level on 55 points with Inter Milan, Udinese and Lazio.

Napoli host Palermo at the San Paolo stadium on Tuesday on the back of Saturday's 2-2 draw against Roma.

Meanwhile, Inter looked to be out of contention last month but an impressive comeback under coach Andrea Stramaccioni has seen them re-enter the race.

Sunday's 2-1 triumph over Cesena was Inter's third win in four games.

"There is no favourite team to finish third," said Stramaccioni, who took the helm last month after Inter sacked Claudio Ranieri.

"We remain in the race and even though we face a difficult calendar ahead, we will not slow down.

"I'm not saying we will finish third but I can guarantee that we will give our all to finish third."

Inter has a difficult run-in as they visit red-hot Parma on Wednesday before hosting AC Milan at the weekend.

The Nerazzurri end the campaign at Lazio on May 13.

Udinese has won only three of its last 14 games, including Sunday's 2-0 victory over Lazio.

It visits already relegated Cesena on Wednesday.

Lazio, meanwhile, host Siena at the Stadio Olimpico in midweek looking to rediscover its winning touch after claiming just one point in its last four games.

Serie A leaders Juventus is firmly on course to win the scudetto.

Winners of eight consecutive games and still unbeaten in the league, Juve host relegation-threatened Lecce.

The Turin giants won 4-0 at Novara last time out to remain three points clear of AC Milan at the top of the standings.

Milan face Atalanta to the San Siro on Wednesday on the back of a 4-1 triumph at Siena.

Seventh-placed Roma travel to Verona to face Chievo looking for just its second win away from Eternal City this year.

Catania and Bologna square off at the Angelo Massimino stadium with both sides having already assured themselves of Serie A football next season.

Second-bottom Novara must win at Fiorentina if it is to have any chance of avoiding the drop.

Novara is eight points adrift of safety with nine still up for grabs.

Strugglers Genoa has not won since February 5 and it is at home to Cagliari. The Grifoni is one spot and one point clear of 18th-place Lecce.

A brace from Mirko Vucinic, and goals from Marco Borriello and Arturo Vidal, helped unbeaten Juventus record its eighth success in a row on Monday (AEST) to reach 77 points with three matches left.

The Bianconeri, who have a better head-to-head record against Milan, could clinch the title as early as Thursday should it defeat Lecce and Milan lose to Atalanta.

Despite the heavy defeat Novara, eight points adrift of safety, was not condemned to Serie B after third-from-bottom Lecce was beaten 2-1 at home by improving Parma.

At Novara, Borriello, in the starting lineup after scoring the winner at Cesena in midweek, almost gave Juve a second-minute advantage with a left-foot shot that flew just the wrong side of the far post.

But with the away side piling forward the lead arrived soon after when another former Roma striker, Vucinic, cleverly steered home Andrea Pirlo's 16th-minute free kick.

Stephan Lichtsteiner, Emanuele Giaccherini and Pirlo, with a fierce strike from 30 metres, then all went close as Juve threatened to kill off the game within the opening half hour.

However, the Bianconeri finally doubled their lead five minutes before the break when an unmarked Borriello headed home Giaccherini's inviting centre.

Chilean midfielder Vidal made sure of the points five minutes after the restart, stroking the ball home after goalkeeper Alberto Santana had halted Vucinic's charge, before the livewire Vucinic struck his second of the afternoon on 64 minutes.

Milan kept pace with Juve after frontmen Antonio Cassano and Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck in three first-half minutes to defeat Siena.

Cassano swept home on 26 minutes after home goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic could only parry an Ibrahimovic strike before the Swede struck with a left-foot blast to double the lead on 29 minutes after being played in by his Italian strike partner.

Substitute Erjon Bogdani pulled a goal back for the home side with seven minutes to play but Antonio Nocerino made the game safe for Milan with a last-minute strike with Ibrahimovic plundering his 26th Serie A goal of the campaign in stoppage time.

Cassano's goal was his first since returning from heart surgery.

The 29-year-old international, who underwent surgery on 14 November, last found the net against Palermo on 15 October.

Inter Milan moved level on 55 points with Napoli and Lazio in the battle for the third UEFA Champions League spot after coming from behind to defeat relegated Cesena 2-1.

Luca Ceccarelli gave the visitors a surprise 57th-minute lead before Nigerian midfielder Joel Obi equalised two minutes later with substitute Mauro Zarate grabbing a 72nd-minute winner for the Nerazzurri.

Lazio travelled to sixth-placed Udinese in Sunday's late match.

In Bergamo Atalanta defeated Fiorentina 2-0 to climb to ninth while Genoa remained a point clear of the relegation zone after a 3-2 defeat at Bologna, extending its winless streak to 14 matches.

Walter Mazzarri's side went behind as Marquinho put Roma in front four minutes before half-time, only for second-half strikes from Juan Zuniga and Edinson Cavani to put it ahead.

Roma, under pressure from the fans to get something from the game, then claimed the equaliser when Fabio Simplicio converted fellow substitute Junior Tallo's pass two minutes from time.

Lazio, trailing Napoli only on goal difference, plays Udinese on Monday (AEST).

Palermo and Catania had to settle for a share of the spoils in a Sicilian derby at the Stadio Renzo Barbera.

Nicola Legrottaglie put visitor Catania in front in the 25th minute as Vincenzo Montella's side dominated the first half.

Fabrizio Miccoli equalised soon after the break as the Rosaneri enjoyed the better of the second period of a match played in hot and humid conditions.

In the evening's remaining match, Chievo's goal drought continued as it was held to a scoreless draw at Cagliari.

The men from Verona failed to find the net for the fourth consecutive game and had to settle for a point at the Nereo Rocco stadium.

About 300 supporters were involved in the fracas at the Luigi Ferraris de Marassi stadium last weekend, forcing the intervention of police and security officials and prompting a delay in the match until order was restored.

Police later used security images to identify the main culprits, some of whom, according to Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello sport, are leaders of hardcore 'Ultras' groups.

About a dozen of the supporters are set to be charged with football-related violence following Genoa's 4-1 home defeat.

The violence kicked off while Genoa was trailing 4-0. About 300 fans left the north stand behind the Genoa goal for a neighbouring stand and began hurling abuse at players and throwing missiles and flares on to the pitch.

The incidents forced a 45-minute interruption and produced scenes which caused an uproar in Italy.

Earlier this week public prosecutors in Genoa confirmed that 11 supporters had been issued with five-year stadium bans, none of which related to the 12 fans currently being investigated.

Genoa has also been ordered by Italian league bosses to play its next two matches behind closed doors, meaning it will play in empty stadiums against Cagliari on May 2 and Palermo for its final match of the season on May 13.

The measure could ultimately hamper its bid to beat the drop. Genoa is 17th, only one point ahead of Lecce, who sit third from last in 18th.

Genoa's defeat also cost coach Alberto Malesani his job. He is set to be replaced by Luigi De Canio, who will be the club's fourth coach of the season.

The Rossoneri goes into Sunday's encounter at Siena trailing three points behind unbeaten Juventus with four games left to play.

Allegri's side edged Genoa 1-0 on Wednesday, courtesy of a late goal from Kevin-Prince Boateng, to remain alive in the Scudetto race.

"As the weeks progress, our chances of winning the Scudetto become increasingly more difficult," Allegri said to www.acmilan.com.

"But we are playing to win every game and we will do this until the end.

"Only then we shall see what happens."

Juventus has a better head-to-head record against Milan and travels to Novara on Sunday riding a seven-match winning run.

The Turin giant will be tested by a Novara side that must avoid defeat to have any chance of avoiding the drop.

Novara is 19th in the standings, eight points adrift of Genoa, which holds the last position of safety.

The stakes are also extremely high when third-placed Lazio visits Udinese.

Lazio holds the last Champions League qualifying spot but is just one place and one point clear of Napoli, which travels to the Italian capital to face fellow European hopeful Roma on Sunday.

Inter Milan has not given up hope of a third-placed finish and takes on already relegated Cesena at the San Siro still unbeaten under coach Andrea Stramaccioni.

The Nerazzurri is level on 52 points with Udinese.

Victory over Fiorentina in Bergamo would allow Atalanta to be able to plan for another season in Serie A with some confidence.

The Bergamaschi has collected 43 points in 34 games and is eight points clear of Lecce.

Palermo coach Bortolo Mutti will be under pressure to take a result in Saturday's Sicilian showdown against Catania, with his side having taken just one point in its last four games at La Favorita.

Cagliari is just two places but six points clear of the drop zone and hosts Chievo on Saturday.

Genoa is winless in its last 13 games and knows that a defeat at Bologna on Sunday could see it fall into the bottom three for the first time this season.

The Grifoni is one point clear of 18th-placed Lecce and hosts in-form Parma.

Parma has won its last three league games to climb into the top half of the standings.

The win at the Dino Manuzzi stadium sees Juve remain three points clear of AC Milan at the top of the standings with four games remaining.

Juventus looked to be heading for a frustrating afternoon after Andrea Pirlo had struck the post from the penalty spot early on but Borriello came to the rescue just six minutes after replacing Alessandro Matri.

Cesena is 14 points behind Genoa with 12 points still up for grabs and returns to the second division after two campaigns in Italy's top flight.

Kevin-Prince Boateng kept AC Milan in the title hunt and sent the club which brought him to Italy closer to relegation with the only goal against Genoa.

The Ghana international kept Milan's Scudetto challenge on track with an 86th-minute goal in a frustrating match for Massimiliano Allegri's host.

Genoa, which remains just one point above the relegation zone, lost Bosko Jankovic to a red card midway through the second half.

Novara maintained hope of staying up with a narrow 2-1 win over Lazio and complicated the Biancoceleste's push for a UEFA Champions League spot.

An own goal from Mobido Diakite put Novara in front against the run of play in the 35th minute, but Antonio Candreva replied immediately.

As Lazio pushed for a winner, former Napoli striker Giuseppe Mascara did his ex-club a favour in its bid for a Champions League spot with a winner for the Piedmontese side.

Napoli moved into fourth place after goals from Marek Hamsik and Edison Cavani gave it a 2-0 win at Lecce which kept its prospects of Champions League football alive.

The visitor scored at the start of either half to go within a point of third-placed Lazio.

Inter Milan drew level on points with fifth-placed Udinese after a 3-1 victory at the Stadio Friuli.

Danilo gave Udinese the lead in the sixth minute, but two goals from Wesley Sneijder turned the game in Inter's favour before Ricardo Alvarez added another before the break.

Fiorentina midfielder Andrea Lazzari struck the winner at the death to dent Roma's European ambitions.

Stevan Jovetic got the Viola off to a dream start with a glancing header from Lazzari's cross to put the visitor ahead after two minutes.

Roma struggled to break down a resolute Fiorentina defence but captain Francesco Totti managed to equalise 19 minutes from time.

Fiorentina then stunned the home crowd at the Stadio Olimpico with Lazzari making no mistake in front of goal.

Roma ended the game with only 10 men after striker Daniel Osvaldo was sent off for dissent in the closing seconds.

Bologna extended its unbeaten run to four games as it earned a valuable point at Siena.

Mattia Destro put Siena ahead early in the second half before Bologna striker Alessandro Diamanti equalised with a free-kick with 21 minutes remaining.

Parma further boosted its survival hopes and heaped yet more home misery on Palermo with a 2-1 victory at La Favorita.

After falling behind to an early Abel Hernandez strike, Parma secured its third straight win thanks to second-half efforts by Stefano Okaka and Jonathan Biabiany.

The Italian giant was expected to play a friendly match against Sydney FC or an A-League selection at ANZ Stadium on Sunday, 27 May.

But the match was called off by promoters in Australia on Wednesday because Serie A leader Juventus was unable to guarantee the appearance of Del Piero, whose contract with the Bianconeri expires at the end of the current European season, and that of other stars.

Juventus is believed to be unsure of Del Piero's intentions once his contract is up and he might end up playing Major League Soccer in America at the end of the Italian season which could land the club a league and cup double.

The match in Sydney was supposed to be Del Piero's last game in a stellar 20-year career with Juventus.

However, sources close to the negotiations to bring Juve to Sydney have not lost hope of having the hugely popular club which is to Serie A what Manchester United is to the Premier League play in Australia.

Plans are ahead to bring Juve down under later in the year during a FIFA window.

The 39-year-old former Italy defender only took up the role last month, but has stepped down after what the club described as a 'misunderstanding' over comments made by president Maurizio Zamparini.

A statement on palermocalcio.it read: "Our technical director Christian Panucci has resigned due to a misunderstanding of statements made by president Maurizio Zamparini, which were incorrectly reported by some newspapers.

"The club accept Panucci's decision with deep regret and thank him for the work he did in a short period."

A 4-1 defeat to Siena left Genoa just one place and one point clear of the relegation zone with five games remaining.

A statement from Genoa read: "The coaching change is official. After Alberto Malesani, here is Gigi De Canio.

"The new coach has guided his first training session today in Milan."

Malesani started the season at Genoa but was dismissed before the Christmas break after a demoralising 6-1 loss at Napoli.

The veteran coach was reappointed earlier this month in place of Pasquale Marino but failed to guide Genoa to victory during his brief spell.

Genoa has not won a game since 5 February and has taken just six points - all from draws - since then.

Last weekend's Serie A game at the Luigi Ferraris stadium was stopped for 45 minutes with Genoa trailing 4-0 early in the second half after a group of home fans threatened to invade the pitch.

The angry group told their players they were not worthy of wearing the jersey and demanded them to take off their shirts, and they acquiesced.

The fans then retreated from the tunnel and allowed the game to continue.

The club's decision to have players remove their shirts and give them to unruly fans was met by fierce criticism from Massimo Mazza, the city's head of police.

"I told my deputy to tell the club that I was totally against this action," Mazza said."My deputy referred it twice to the club, but they opted for a different decision."

Genoa president Enrico Preziosi defended his club's decision.

"Yesterday we used good sense to avoid a worst-case scenario," Preziosi told Gazzetta dello Sport. "I only said that if we had to give the jerseys to the fans, we could replace them by other ones and hence, we would have given them as gifts in order for the fans to be calm."

The police have yet to make any arrests while the Lega Serie A have punished Genoa by forcing it to play its next two home Serie A games - against Cagliari on 2 May and against Palermo on 13 May - behind closed doors.

Genoa travels to the San Siro on Wednesday afternoon (Thursday morning AEST) to face Scudetto hopeful AC Milan in what will be De Canio's first game in charge.

The 54-year-old tactician, who guided Genoa in the 2003-2004 campaign, had been out of a job since parting company with Lecce last northern summer.

Conte, whose side is on course to clinch its first Scudetto since the 2005-06 campaign, has demanded full focus from his players ahead of Wednesday's match at bottom-side Cesena.

The Turin giants is unbeaten and has won its last six league games, including Sunday's 4-0 triumph over Roma.

"We have taken a step forward," Conte said to www.juventus.it. "But we cannot forget that there are still five games remaining.

"Destiny is in our hands.

"The important thing is that we have already assured ourselves direct qualification to the Champions League, which was our main aim this season.

"Now we must focus on the game at Cesena, a match where we have everything to lose."

Cesena head into the encounter at the Dino Manuzzi stadium aware that they could be relegated to Serie B as they lie 14 points adrift of safety with 15 points still up for grabs.

Second-placed AC Milan host 17th-placed Genoa looking to bounce back from last weekend's 1-1 draw to Bologna that hindered its title challenge.

Massimiliano Allegri's men has dropped five points in its last two games at the San Siro.

Lazio will be looking to strengthen its grip on third place - the last Champions League qualifying spot - when they visit second-bottom Novara.

The Biancoceleste has lost five of its last six games on the road and hold a three-point advantage over Udinese.

Udinese has managed just one win in its last eight league games and take on European hopefuls Inter Milan at the Friuli stadium.

Fifth-placed Napoli halted a five-match winless run with a 2-0 triumph over Novara on Sunday.

The Naples outfit visit Lecce looking to remain in the hunt for a third-place finish.

Roma was soundly beaten at Juventus on Sunday to drop to sixth place.

The Giallorossi seek home comfort when they host Fiorentina in midweek. Roma has won five of its last six league games at the Stadio Olimpico.

Mid-table Siena take on Bologna on Wednesday on the back of a 4-1 triumph at Genoa, its third win in four games.

Catania halted a four-match winless run with a 2-0 triumph over Atalanta last time out.

The Sicilians travel to Trieste to face strugglers Cagliari on Tuesday.

Parma has not won on the road since February 5 but travel to La Favorita to face a Palermo side invigorated by Saturday's 3-0 triumph over Cagliari.

The result was its third straight win at home and lifted the Ducale club six points clear of the drop zone.

Atalanta entertain Chievo in Bergamo looking to take a giant step towards Serie A safety.

The Bergamaschi has collected 40 points from 33 games and lie five points clear of the drop zone.

Yesterday's Serie A game at the Luigi Ferraris stadium was stopped for 45 minutes with Genoa trailing 4-0 early in the second half after a group of home fans threatened to invade the pitch.

The angry group told the players they were not worthy of wearing the shirts and demanded they take them off and they acquiesced.

The fans then retreated from the tunnel and allowed the game to continue.

"Yesterday we used good sense to avoid a worst-case scenario," Preziosi said to Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I only said that if we had to give the jerseys to the fans, we could replace them by other ones and hence, we would have given them as gifts in order for the fans to be calm."

The move was heavily criticised by Massimo Mazza, Genoa's head of police.

"We had the right number of policemen and there was no pitch invasion," he said.

"When that group of fans told the players to take off their jerseys, I told my deputy to tell the club that I was totally against this.

"My deputy referred it twice to the club, who opted for a different decision."

The president of the Lega Serie A Maurizio Beretta has called for the fans that created the trouble to be punished.

"It would be very important to show that those that were involved in those acts are made to answer for what they did," he said to www.legaseriea.it.

"In the meantime, we have to apply the maximum punishment that is available.

"It's not sufficient to hand a stadium ban.

"We must be able to stop those individuals that damage football and Genoa."

The police have yet to make any arrests.

"We have to work to identify the individuals and the responsibility they had," Mazza said.

"We have to analyse the facts even though there were no violent acts."

The Biancoceleste remains in third place in Serie A but looked on course for victory against Lecce after Francelino Matuzalem had put it ahead with eight minutes remaining.

However, Lecce substitute Valeri Bojinov popped up in the 90th minute to earn his side a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Olimpico.

"We did not get the points we deserved because we were not lucid and we lacked maturity at the end," Reja said. "I am angry because my players were distracted late in the game and that led to Lecce's goal.

"It's a pity because had we taken three points today, we would have taken a good advantage in the race to finish third."

The result has left Lazio holding the last UEFA Champions League qualifying spot with a three-point advantage over Udinese, which was held to a goalless result at Chievo.

Napoli is fifth and lies one point behind Udinese with five games remaining.

"Napoli have a bigger roster than we do and they have a better fixture list than us," Reja said. "But all the other teams like Udinese, Roma and Inter Milan also remain in the race.

"I still believe that we can hold onto third spot by the end of the season even though today's result leaves a bitter taste in our mouths."

Lazio visits Novara on Wednesday morning (Wednesday evening AEST) while Napoli travels to Lecce and Udinese hosts Inter Milan next.

With Juventus thrashing 10-man Roma 4-0 later in the evening, Milan found itself three points off the pace after a 1-1 draw at the San Siro.

Allegri took little consolation from Zlatan Ibrahimovic's late equaliser, which came after Milan had been reduced to 10 players with eight minutes remaining.

"We should have taken the points," Allegri said. "We made many mistakes in the first half and we did better in the second half but unfortunately, we weren't able to win.

"In our last two home games, we have dropped five points and this is disappointing.

"If Juventus win tonight they have a great chance to win the Scudetto, otherwise, things will remain as they are."

Milan hosts Genoa on Wednesday afternoon (Thursday morning AEST) while Juventus visits basement-dweller Cesena.

"We have to win our next game regardless of what Juventus do," Allegri said. "We face a very difficult game against Genoa on Wednesday and we must prepare.

"We will not give up the fight and if Juventus finish ahead of us in the standings by May 13, then they will be worthy of the Scudetto."

With Genoa trailing 4-0 early in the second half at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, an angry group of home fans accumulated around the tunnel area, from where they sent fireworks on to the pitch and threatened to invade it.

The game was halted by referee Paolo Tagliavento and after a break of 20 minutes, the match officials and the Siena team left the field with the furious fans applauding them, but not letting the Genoa players approach.

The group demanded the home players take off their shirts and captain Marco Rossi gathered jerseys from all but goalkeeper Giuseppe Sculli, who tearfully confronted the supporters.

The fans retreated from the tunnel after his show of passion and allowed the game to continue. It ended 4-1.

"I'm sorry that 60 or 100 people can say and do as they want with impunity without us having the ability to control them and send them home," Preziosi was quoted as saying by www.gazzetta.it

"They cannot take over the stadium and enforce their law.

"These people should go to jail, they are the evil of Genoa."

Preziosi claimed he would prefer it if his side was now given a stadium ban.

"If today a child had suffered a ruptured eardrum what would happen?," he said. "Do we have to wait for a dead man before putting them all in jail?

"I do not fear them. I hope we get a ban from playing at home, so we have to play away and get a bit of calm."

Giancarlo Abete, the president of the Italian Football Federation, added: "The events in Genoa are a very ugly incident which takes us backward and we must react."

Away from the title race, Genoa's match against Siena at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris was suspended for 45 minutes after a fan disturbance that saw the home players intimidated in the middle of the pitch and forced to remove their shirts by angry supporters.

The game eventually restarted after goalkeeper Giuseppe Sculli's emotional intervention, with Siena resuming 4-0 in front and going on to secure an important three points in its battle against relegation.

Franco Brienza was on target twice for Siena, with Mattia Destro - on loan from Genoa - and Luigi Giorgi also scoring to take Giuseppe Sannino's side seven points clear of the bottom three. Genoa's consolation came from a Cristiano Del Grosso own goal 11 minutes from time.

In the battle for the Scudetto, Juventus took a potentially significant step towards its first league crown in almost a decade with a crushing win over Roma.

Arturo Vidal scored twice in the first eight minutes and the Bianconeri made it 3-0 after a controversial penalty decision which saw visiting goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg sent off in the 26th minute, and Andrea Pirlo netting on the rebound after seeing his spot-kick saved.

Claudio Marchisio then completed the scoring in the 52nd minute to round off a comprehensive win which puts Juve in the box seat with five games remaining.

Earlier, 10-man AC Milan was surprisingly held at home by Bologna.

It might have been even worse for the Rossoneri as well as it needed a last-minute equaliser from Zlatan Ibrahimovic just to salvage a point.

The Rossoneri looked to be heading for just its third home defeat this season after Gaston Ramirez had put Bologna in front in the 26th minute and the home side lost Daniele Bonera to an 82nd-minute red card, but Ibrahimovic's goal helped it avoid that fate.

Third-placed Lazio also dropped two points at home after conceding a 90th-minute equaliser against relegation-threatened Lecce.

Francesco Matuzalem put the host ahead in the 82nd minute after both teams had previously been denied by the crossbar, but Lecce substitute Valeri Bojinov struck seconds from the end to earn his side a vital point.

Fiorentina had a penalty saved as Inter Milan held on for a goalless draw in Tuscany.

Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar brought down Fiorentina's Andrea Lazzari in the 69th minute but then kept out Adem Ljajic's spot-kick.

In the day's other game, Cesena staved off relegation for a few days at least by drawing 2-2 at home to Palermo.

The Serie A basement boy turned the game around in the space of three minutes just before the half-hour mark as goals from Mario Santana and Vincenzo Rennella put it 2-1 in front.

But Matias Silvestre equalised on the stroke of half-time to earn a point for Palermo, which had gone in front through Nicolas Bertolo.

The draw left Cesena 14 points from safety with five games to go.

Conte woke up on Saturday to newspaper reports that a player he coached at Siena last season has claimed he was aware of match-fixing at the club related to illegal sports betting.

Filippo Carobbio allegedly told investigators Conte was complicit in an attempt to fix a match at the end of last season, after Siena had already secured promotion to Serie A.

But Conte has dismissed the claims as nothing other than an attempt to unsettle Juve in its battle with AC Milan for the scudetto crown.

"I want to make something clear, I'm here to talk about Juve-Roma, a vital match if we want to continue our dream," Conte said at Saturday's pre-match press conference ahead of the visit of Roma.

"But it's inevitable that I also read today's newspapers and with regards to what Carobbio said, I have little to add.

"There's an investigation, I'm very calm and have full faith in the institutions.

"No-one has called me up until now and when they do I will have the pleasure of seeing those people and answering their questions."

Asked directly if these stories could destabilise the club, Conte was adamant.

"Not even in our thoughts, it triples our resolve, the fire in our bellies and our desire to achieve something important.

"It happens that everything and more comes from outside but that's part of the game, it just increases our determination."

With just six games left, Juve leads Milan by a point atop the Serie A tree and Conte says his team must think only of winning matches.

Victory would have put the visitor into the automatic UEFA Champions League places ahead of the Rome side's game on Sunday afternoon (Monday morning AEST), but it could not find a way past its host.

Indeed, it was thankful not to lose the game with Cyril Thereau missing a first-half penalty for Chievo.

Napoli closed to within a point of Udinese in fifth with a 2-0 win over second-bottom Novara.

Edinson Cavani and Paolo Cannavaro scored the goals in a one-sided game which was all over by half-time.

Catania boosted its hopes of clinching UEFA Europa League football next season with a 2-0 victory over Atalanta.

Alejandro Gomez set the host on the way with the opening goal after half-an-hour and Felipe Seymour made sure of the points five minutes from time.

In the day's other game, Parma beat Cagliari 3-0 to move further clear of the relegation zone.

Sebastian Giovinco was the orchestrator of Parma's win with the opening goal in the 24th minute.

The home side's second and third goals both came from the penalty spot, with Sergio Floccari scoring the first in the 73rd minute and Stefano Okaka wrapping up the triumph in the last minute.

Juventus hasn't lost in 36 league and cup fixtures this season and lead the title race by a point from AC Milan.

It has six league encounters left before the cup final against Napoli.

And while Marchisio is keen for the Turin giants to go the whole campaign without a loss, it's the title he really wants.

"It's not finished yet, the winners will be those who keep their nerves, although not just that," he said.

"We need to keep our concentration as we have done so far, but we'll also need a bit of luck. We really want to break the unbeaten run but that would only count if we win at the end."

AC Milan currently holds the longest unbeaten run in Italy, 42 games from April 1992 to March 1993.

Last weekend's games were called off after the Livorno player collapsed and died last Saturday during a Serie B game at Pescara.

A minute's silence will be observed at all Serie A games this weekend in memory of Morosini, who was 25 and played on loan at Livorno from Udinese.

"He was an exceptional man, so full of life," Udinese captain Antonio Di Natale said.

"He was always at the disposal of the team and every day he was with us, he gave us all strength.

"What happened to him is tragic and unfortunate."

Udinese travels to Verona to face Chievo on Saturday.

Serie A leader Juventus is riding a five-match winning streak and takes on fifth-placed Roma on Sunday evening.

The Turin giant is unbeaten this season and one point clear of AC Milan with six games remaining.

Milan is at the San Siro and squares off against Bologna bolstered by the return of defender Daniele Bonera and midfielders Alberto Aquilani and Massimo Ambrosini from suspension.

Lazio will be looking to strengthen its grip on third place - the last Champions League qualifying spot - when it hosts 18th-place Lecce.

The Biancoceleste is three points clear of closest rival Udinese.

Napoli is sixth and takes on second-bottom Novara at the San Paolo stadium desperate to stop the rot. Its 3-1 defeat to Atalanta last time out was Napoli's third straight loss and extended its winless run to five games.

Inter Milan is level on 48 points with Napoli. The Nerazzurri has won just twice on the road this year and takes on Fiorentina in Tuscany.

Mid-table Atalanta takes on Catania in Sicily with both sides looking to take a giant step towards Serie A safety.

The Bergamaschi has collected 40 points from 32 games and lies two places and three points behind Catania.

Cagliari travels to Parma looking for its first win on the road since December 4.

Since then, the Sardinian outfit has taken three points - all from draws - of a possible 27.

Genoa will be under pressure to get a positive result against Siena knowing that anything but a win could see it fall into the relegation zone.

The Grifoni holds the last position of safety and is two points clear of Lecce.

Rock-bottom Cesena heads into Sunday's encounter against Palermo at the Dino Manuzzi stadium knowing that a defeat could see it relegated to Serie B.

Cesena lies 15 points adrift of safety with 18 points still up for grabs.

The 37-year-old's contract with the Bianconeri outfit expires this summer and the club will not offer him a new deal.

Del Piero is expected to play his last game for Juve in a friendly match in Sydney on 27 May.

"From June 30, I am without a contract," Del Piero said in an interview with Vanity Fair Italian edition. "I don't know how to imagine my future, it's going to be a big change and it scares me a little bit.

"It's like leaving home for a second time.

"But the way I approach this is as I did when I played the video games I liked as a child, that is to overcome a new level.

"Would I have wanted to end my career with the Juve colours? It was my dream.

"The past 20 years have been rich with emotions, with hard times and extraordinary ones.

"I have been able to achieve many of club's records.

"But things have changed."

Del Piero holds the all-time goalscoring record at Juventus while he is also the club's all-time highest-capped player.

However, under coach Antonio Conte, Del Piero has seen his playing time reduced this season, making just 19 league appearances for the Bianconeri so far.

"It has been the most difficult campaign of my life," the veteran forward said. "I have been hit with a reality that I had never experienced before, that of not playing or playing very little.

"[Juventus president Andrea] Agnelli in October announced that this would be my last season at the club. It surprised me.

"But a captain can never forget his duties and what he represents.

"We are in the race to win the Coppa Italia and Serie A and we don't need any controversies because they have never been part of my career."

Del Piero has been strongly linked with a move to Major League Soccer this summer.

"I am the first to know when I will retire but not yet," he said. "My passion for the game is still very much alive."

The Sweden international has no intention of leaving the San Siro outfit this northern summer despite reports in Italy linking him with a move to Spanish giant Real Madrid.

The 30-year-old Ibrahimovic told AC Milan Channel: "As I said six months ago, I am happy here.

"I have a contract and I don't have any other thoughts.

"I am determined to end this season well with the Milan colours and then with my national team.

"Milan has given me back a smile and the will to play. Milan is my future.

"I play well because I am happy here, on and off the pitch. After the holidays I will return to begin pre-season training with this jersey."

Ibrahimovic has scored 23 goals in 26 league appearances for the Rossoneri and leads the Serie A goalscoring charts.

He joined Milan in 2010 from Barcelona and is under contract with the Italian giant until June 2015.

Morosini collapsed during a game at Pescara and was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

The 25-year-old's coffin was on Tuesday taken to Livorno's Armando Picchi stadium, where its arrival was greeted by the large crowd, many of whom had earlier laid down candles, cards, flowers and flags at the main gates.

A blessing by Livorno's bishop Simone Giusti followed and fans were invited to place flowers and scarfs on the coffin before Morosini's hearse completed a circuit of the stadium in front of packed grandstands.

Morosini's body has now been taken to his home city of Bergamo, where his funeral will take place on Thursday.

A minute's silence will be held in Morosini's honour at all Italian football matches this weekend.

Livorno, which Morosini joined on loan from Udinese in January, has said it will retire his number 25 shirt, and club legend Igor Protti revealed he had requested a section of the Picchi to be renamed in Morosini's honour.

"I asked the mayor to dedicate a section of the stadium, and they said he fully agreed. Now we will see how to proceed," Protti said.

Protti added on Sky Sport 24: "It was a very moving occasion and very hard to swallow for everyone, especially for the family of course.

"Football in these past days has demonstrated a unity which in recent times there has never been.

"I saw our opponents' fans, like those of Pisa, come here to pay tribute to Piermario, and I saw in the eyes of players who observed the minute's silence a sense of disbelief about what has happened.

"I never knew him when he was here in Livorno for three months, but these past days I got to know him from the statements of his friends and team-mates, and he comes out as a great person."

On Monday, an autopsy carried out on Morosini returned inconclusive results.

The post-mortem examination lasted more than six hours but a coroner later confirmed further tests were required.

The Greek defender has spent this season on loan with the Bundesliga club and Allofs has now confirmed that it has activated an option to sign him permanently.

"The contractual details have been resolved 100 percent and we have taken our option on him." Allofs told Radio Bremen.

"Sokratis will be playing for Werder Bremen in the coming years."

Sokratis has played a total of 29 games for Bremen this season and his commitment to the club is a boost at a time when several of its players have been linked with moves.

Goalkeeper Tim Wiese has already announced that he will not be extending his contract while Claudio Pizarro has turned down a contract extension and, along with unsettled defender Naldo, he seems set to leave the club.

The 25-year-old Morosini, who was on loan from Serie A side Udinese, collapsed and died after suffering a cardiac arrest during a Serie B match at Pescara.

His death prompted the suspension of all Italian football over the weekend.

On Monday, Di Natale said too much football is played in Italy and that 'last year I thought about retiring ... I'll play these last six games for Mario and then we'll see'.

"I'm speaking for myself because I've been playing football for 18 years," he added.

"Playing twice a week is very difficult, Italian football is going too fast.

"But I think what happened to Mario was bad luck."

Di Natale, 34, said he was struggling to cope with Morosini's death and had already thought about retiring - but insisted he had not made any firm decision.

The Italy striker has finished as top scorer in Serie A for the past two seasons.

He is currently joint second with 20, three behind AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Di Natale paid tribute to Morosini.

"He was a fantastic kid who came to training with a smile. I haven't slept for two days because it's impossible with what's happened.

"I've known him for seven years, he never let on that he didn't have a father or mother. He always had a smile on his face and always helped everyone.

"I only found out a couple of years ago about his problems. He was a lad who wanted to live and make everyone else live.

"It's not normal to die at 25. I will do whatever I can to help his sister."

Morosini's parents both died while he was still a teenager and his brother, who was disabled, committed suicide soon afterwards.

Now with his death, he leaves behind a disabled older sister.

Udinese has vowed to look after her now that she is left with no immediate family and has opened a bank account in her name to which people can make donations.

"There are many players in the top two divisions who want to help this girl. Mario was very close to her and now we'll all try to give a helping hand," added Di Natale.

According to Udinese, she has a serious psychological disability and has spent many years being treated in a psychiatric institution in the family's home city of Bergamo.

All matches in Italy at the weekend were called off in memory of Morosini, who suffered a suspected heart attack during a Serie B match at Pescara.

The Lega Serie A met on Monday night and later announced the 33rd round of fixtures would take place on Tuesday and Wednesday next week, after the 34th round at the weekend.

Title rivals Juventus and AC Milan will both kick off at 6pm local time on 25 April.

Reports in Italy earlier claimed clubs had clashed regarding the proposed dates.

Ahead of the meeting in Milan, Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti told www.inter.it: "We have to do what is right.

"I don't think it is the case to create any controversy at this time."

The Lega had considered moving the matches to this weekend, and switching round 34 to 25 April, but several clubs reportedly wanted this weekend's scheduled fixtures to go ahead with round 33 moved to next week.

Moratti believes the decision to call off games was the right one.

Inter had been due to play at Udinese - Morosini's parent club - on Saturday night.

"I think it was obvious not to play the game,'' Moratti said. "It was the only choice that could be taken because it was a serious episode, which sent the right message.

"It was normal and understandable.

"For Udinese players, it was a case of losing a team-mate, a team player, who everybody knew well.

"Hence, it was a very serious situation, a horrible episode and the football world understood it."

The post-mortem examination was carried out on Monday and lasted more than six hours but no cause of death was determined.

"There is no macroscopic evidence that allows us to determine his death," coroner Cristian D'Ovidio said in quotes reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Further tests are needed, even of toxicological nature."

Morosini, 25, died after collapsing while playing for Livorno in a match at Pescara.

Livorno, the club Morosini joined on loan from Udinese in January, confirmed that his body will arrive at Leghorn's Armando Picchi stadium on Tuesday in order to allow fans to pay their respects.

Morosini's body will then be taken to his home city of Bergamo where a funeral will take place on Thursday.

Earlier, Livorno announced that Morosini's number 25 jersey would be retired and called on certain media outlets to cease broadcasting images of the incident.

"In the name of Morosini's family, Livorno kindly asks all national and international media to stop showing the video images and photographs of the time when Piermario collapsed on the pitch ... " a statement read.

Meanwhile, an inquiry into Morosini's death has been opened after a parked car belonging to traffic police blocked the ambulance's path into the stadium on Saturday.

One of the car's windows had to be broken in order for it to be moved, and the mayor of Pescara, Luigi Albore Mascia, revealed he was taking the issue seriously.

"There has been an admission of responsibility from the traffic policeman that on Saturday parked his car in the stadium, thus blocking for a few minutes the entrance of the ambulance to the pitch," Mascia told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"It is an unforgettable act that is serious.

"But, if the medical assistance was considered timely as I believe it was, then it is wrong to place direct responsibility on the traffic policeman regarding the death of the unfortunate player."

The banner made a reference to former versatile Juve player Gianluca Pessotto, who tried to commit suicide in June 2006, not long after he had retired as a player.

He was appointed as team manager at Juve after retiring but apparently became depressed over the match-fixing Calciopoli scandal that saw Juve relegated to Serie B and stripped of its 2005 and 2006 titles.

He survived a fall from the fourth floor and later came back to resume his duties at Juve. He is now a youth team coach with the Turin giant.

He also had a one-year spell at Bologna earlier in his career when it was in Serie B but was widely seen as a disappointment.

Palermo and its president Maurizio Zamparini have been fined 27,000 euros ($34,232) each over comments the official made about referee Luca Banti after the Palermo-Roma clash on 11 March.

All football was called off in Italy at the weekend, including Inter's league game at Udinese, in memory of Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini, who died after collapsing on the pitch during Saturday's Serie B match at Pescara.

The Lega Serie A will meet on Monday night to announce when round 33 of Serie A games will be played, but reports in Italy claim clubs have already clashed regarding the proposed dates.

Ahead of the meeting in Milan, Moratti said to www.inter.it: "We have to do what is right.

"I don't think it is the case to create any controversy at this time."

The Lega had considered moving the matches to this weekend, and switching round 34 to April 25, but several clubs reportedly want this weekend's scheduled fixtures to go ahead with round 33 moved to Wednesday week.

Moratti believes the decision to call off games was the right one.

Inter was due to play at Udinese - Morosini's parent club - on Saturday night.

"I think it was obvious not to play the game," Moratti said. "It was the only choice that could be taken because it was a serious episode, which sent the right message.

"It was normal and understandable.

"For Udinese players, it was a case of losing a team-mate, a team player, who everybody knew well.

"Hence, it was a very serious situation, a horrible episode and the football world understood it."

The Biancoceleste had been hoping that the Germany international, who has been sidelined with a thigh injury since last month, would be back in training by now but the 33-year-old's recovery process has been slower than first anticipated.

However, Reja is keeping his fingers crossed that Klose will be back in the fold for the last few games as Lazio chase a top-three finish in Serie A.

"I hope to have Klose available for the last two league games of the season," Reja said to www.corrieredellosport.it. "The final games could be crucial."

Lazio currently occupy the third and final Champions League qualifying spot with six games remaining, lying three points above fourth-placed Udinese.

Klose, who joined Lazio last summer on a free transfer from Bayern Munich, has scored 13 goals in 26 league appearances for the Biancoceleste so far.

The Argentina striker joined Milan on loan from Catania in January.

The Rossoneri has the opportunity to make the 28-year-old's stay at the San Siro permanent at the end of the season, and the player's agent, Andrea D'Amico, is confident the Italian champions will exercise that option .

"He will remain at Milan," D'Amico said to www.calciomercato.it.

"Maxi has proved in the limited minutes he has had on the pitch and in training, to be a great champion.

"He is strong, he has class, speed and executes well, something which is not easy to find."

Lopez has scored one goal in seven league appearances for Milan so far.

The 21-year-old joined the Sicilian outfit in 2009 from Penarol and his previous deal would have expired this summer.

"I am delighted," Hernandez said to www.ilpalermocalcio.it. "I'm very happy in Palermo.

"My only thoughts have been on this jersey and my only desire was to remain here.

"I am certain that with our fans' support we can achieve many joys in the future."

Hernandez has scored five goals in 15 league appearances for Palermo this season.

The 25-year-old, who was on loan from Udinese, suffered a cardiac arrest during his side's Serie B match at Pescara.

Balotelli, who played for the Italy Under-21s at the same time as Morosini, was quoted by english.gazzetta.it as saying: "He was a great lad.

"It's a terrible event and makes you reflect on your own existence. It teaches you to appreciate life and to live it with care and dignity."

He added: "I was upset and speechless when I heard of Morosini's death. I couldn't believe it and thought it was a terrible joke.

"He was a great lad, a really great lad."

The Italian Football Association postponed all remaining matches in the country over the weekend because of the tragedy.

The fans left scarves and flowers outside the stadium, where a banner read: "You fought until the end, goodbye great Moro."

Livorno, the club Morosini had joined on loan in January from Serie A side Udinese, issued a statement thanking everyone for the overwhelming support it has received in the last few hours.

It said: "The family, the girlfriend of Piermario and AS Livorno Calcio wants to thank all of the people that in this time of pain have remembered a great athlete and a special person."

Ernesto Randazzo, the player's agent, was still coming to terms with the tragic loss of the 25-year-old.

"I knew him for 13 years," he said.

"His aim was to make his stay at Livorno permanent. He had always been in very good condition and proof of that was all the medical check-ups he had undergone with all of the teams he had played for."

Morosini moved to Udinese in 2005 from Atalanta's youth academy before embarking on a series of loan spells elsewhere - first at Bologna, then Reggina, Padova, Vicenza and finally Livorno.

He made 18 appearances for Italy's Under-21s.

Udinese, the club which owned Morosini's sporting rights, has confirmed it will honour his memory by providing financial aid to the player's disabled sister.

A statement from Udinese read: "We are profoundly in pain for the premature death of Piermario Morosini.

"Through our non-profit organisation, 'Udinese for life', we will guarantee assistance to the sister of the unfortunate player, who has now been left on her own."

Morosini had been hit by a series of personal tragedies in his young life. The Bergamo-born player had lost both his parents before his 18th birthday.

Shortly after, Morosini's disabled brother committed suicide, leaving him alone with his handicapped elder sister.

An autopsy will be conducted on Monday to ascertain whether Morosini's cause of death was linked to a problem with the brain or the heart.

Pescara's local authorities have announced that an inquiry into Morosini's death will be opened after a parked car belonging to traffic police had initially blocked the ambulance's path into the stadium.

Morosini, who was on loan from Udinese, collapsed in the 31st minute and received treatment on the pitch - reportedly including a heart massage in a bid to resuscitate him - before being rushed to Pescara's Santo Spirito hospital.

The match was abandoned and many players left the field in tears.

Lega Serie B then confirmed on its website: "Tragedy on the field. After suffering a cardiac arrest during the match between Pescara and Livorno, Piermario Morosini has died.

"The 25-year-old player, who came through the youth ranks with Atalanta, arrived at Livorno from Udinese in January and played nine times for the Amaranto."

Cardiologist Edoardo De Blasio was quoted as telling www.gazzetta.it: "It was a cardiac arrest. Sadly, he was already dead when he arrived in the hospital and he never recovered."

The Italian Football Association (FIGC) swiftly announced the postponement of all remaining matches in the country over the weekend.

The Lega Serie A said in a statement on its website: "The football world mourns the tragedy that occurred this afternoon in Pescara, where during the game between the hosts and Livorno, the player Piermario Morosini slumped to the ground suffering from a heart attack. Transported to the hospital, the young midfielder was put into an induced coma, but died at around 1700.

"The FIGC has suspended, in memory of Piermario, all games scheduled over the weekend."

The ambulance came onto the field in Pescara to take Morosini away, with both sets of players standing by in distress.

The tragedy comes four weeks after Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest during his team's FA Cup quarter-final at Tottenham Hotspur.

The former England Under-21 international was given extensive treatment on the field before being carried off on a stretcher and rushed to the London Chest Hospital.

It took 78 minutes for Muamba's heart to start working on its own again, but he has made incredible progress since.

The Muamba incident invoked memories for many of Cameroon international Marc-Vivien Foe, who collapsed during a Confederations Cup semi-final against Colombia in 2003 and died in hospital.

There have been two similar tragedies with players suffering heart attacks on the pitch in Spain in recent years - Sevilla's Antonio Puerta in 2007 and Espanyol's Dani Jarque in 2009 - while Motherwell's Phil O'Donnell died after suffering a cardiac arrest against Dundee United in 2007.

Roberto Baronio, a former team-mate of Morosini at Udinese, expressed his disbelief to Italy's Sky Sport 24 at the death of his friend.

"He was such a very unfortunate person," he said. "A few years ago, he lost his parents and his brother in such a short space of time. I got to know him when I was at Udinese and there are no words to describe such a chilling feeling. It is absurd - he was just 25 years old.

"When I was at Udinese, he was just coming through the youth ranks and he made his debut that year against AC Milan. You could see he was a hot prospect."

Baronio believes that, given the number of tests professional footballers are subjected to, the tragedy could not have been avoided.

"I think it is just destiny," he said.

"It is not down to the lack of (health) checks because we have so many check-ups and tests nowadays.

"It could happen to anybody. What surprises me is that it happens to a professional footballer. Last year, we had the number of tests increased - every two months we have them. How can this happen? Like Muamba. We cannot understand why. It is destiny which has taken him away."

Bergamo-born Morosini started his career in the youth ranks at his hometown club Atalanta before moving to Udinese in 2005.

A loan spell with Bologna followed before a 2007 switch to Vicenza, where he stayed until returning to Udine two years later. He had further loan stints with Reggina, Padova, Vicenza and finally Livorno.

Udinese owner Giampaolo Pozzo was understandably shocked and saddened by the news, and said his club's players would have been in no fit state of mind to contest its scheduled Serie A game against Inter Milan.

Speaking at a press conference in Udine, he said: "It is one of the saddest days in my career in football. I cannot remember a tragedy like this in my 26 years in the game.

"He was at Udine from 2005, so he was here for six years.

"I remember him as he was a very serious lad, very professional, and he played often away on loan but he was always back here punctually for pre-season.

"This year, we kept him here until January and then we had a large squad so we loaned him out to Livorno.

"This news has hit us hard. The team, when they heard the news, they refused to play today - they said they could not play.

"Ten minutes later, we got the announcement from the FIGC to call off all games. Credit goes to the association for taking this decision so quickly - otherwise we would have taken that decision [not to play], accepting the consequences. There was no way we could have played today after this."

The Turin giant beat Lazio 2-1 in midweek to clinch its fifth straight triumph and return to the top of the Serie A table.

"My players are doing extraordinary things this season," Conte told www.juventus.it. "We are still unbeaten and we are one point clear of a fantastic side like AC Milan.

"We must continue like this and think of our next game at Cesena that for us and for them will be the game of our lives."

Cesena heads into the encounter at the Dino Manuzzi stadium knowing that a defeat could see it relegated to Serie B.

Cesena lies 15 points adrift of safety with 18 points still up for grabs.

AC Milan, meanwhile, bounced back from its 2-1 loss to Fiorentina with a 1-0 triumph at Chievo.

The Rossoneri will be bolstered by the return of defender Daniele Bonera and midfielders Alberto Aquilani and Massimo Ambrosini from suspension for this weekend's game against relegation-threatened Genoa.

Genoa will be under pressure to get a positive result knowing that anything but a win could see it fall into the relegation zone.

The Grifoni hold the last position of safety and is two points clear of Lecce, which is 18th.

Lazio will be looking to strengthen its grip on third place - the last UEFA Champions League qualifying spot - when it visits second-bottom Novara.

The Biancoceleste has lost five of its last six games on the road and holds a three-point advantage over Udinese.

Udinese takes on European hopeful Inter Milan at the Friuli stadium.

Fifth-place Roma will fancy its chances of taking maximum points against Fiorentina.

The Giallorossi, which remains in the hunt for a third-place finish, has won five of its last six league games at the Stadio Olimpico.

Napoli is sixth and makes the journey to Lecce desperate to end the rot.

A 3-1 defeat to Atalanta was Napoli's third straight loss and extended its winless run to five games.

Mid-table Atalanta entertains Chievo in Bergamo with both sides looking to take a giant step towards Serie A safety.

The Bergamaschi has collected 40 points from 32 games and lies one place and two points behind Chievo.

Parma has not won on the road since 5 February but travels to La Favorita to face Palermo invigorated by a 2-0 triumph over Novara.

The result lifted the Ducale club four points clear of the drop zone.

Catania takes on Cagliari in Trieste still smarting over its 2-1 defeat to Lecce in midweek that followed its 3-2 loss at Chievo.

The Sicilian side looked to be heading for its 11th win of the campaign only to concede two goals in the final two minutes.

Siena must overcome the absence of goalkeeper Gianluca Pegolo in its game against Bologna.

Pegolo was dismissed for dissent in his side's 2-1 defeat at Inter Milan and must serve a one-match ban this weekend.

Alessandro Diamanti scored the only goal of the game in the 54th minute as Stefano Pioli's side moved above the Sardinian outfit into mid-table, six points clear of the relegation zone with six games of the season remaining.

Cagliari searched in vain for an equaliser and must now fear for its own future with just four points separating it from in-form Lecce in 18th.

Robert Acquafresca missed two early chances for Bologna with Diamanti also giving an early indication of his shooting ability.

Cagliari's only chance of a tight and tedious first half was an unchallenged header from Joaquin Larrivey which missed the target.

Acquafresca was nearly clean through on goal just before the break, but Michele Canini halted his route to goal and was only given a yellow card while the home fans were demanding red.

Diamanti then tried his luck from 35 yards out with Michael Agazzi making a good save to push the ball behind for a corner.

Agazzi had been warned often enough about Diamanti's shooting, but he was still unable to prevent him from putting Bologna in front in the 54th minute.

The Bologna forward curled his direct free-kick over the wall and just beyond Agazzi's reach in the top right-hand corner.

The Sardinian side responded with Andrea Cossu's volley tipped over instinctively by Jean-Francois Gillet.

Thiago Ribeiro then failed to take advantage of a defensive mix-up as he placed his shot wide of the open goal from the edge of the penalty area.

The tension got too much for Pioli, who was ordered from his bench with his side struggling to contain a buoyant Cagliari.

Larrivey sent a header against the crossbar as Cagliari threw men forwards in search of an equaliser which it was unable to find as Bologna held on to all three points.

Allegri has found his position questioned all of a sudden after the team's UEFA Champions League exit to Barcelona a week ago and a run of two league games without a win that saw it lose the scudetto leadership to Juventus.

It may seem absurd for a coach who won the title in his first season in charge of the rossoneri to be under pressure in his second as it fights for the title but that is how the press works in Italy.

But Allegri has many supporters in the dressing room.

"These are things said by the press but sincerely we feel the club's faith (in Allegri) as does the boss," said Nocerino.

"The only thing we need to do is concentrate on the pitch which is the most important thing."

Milan had been giving chase to Juve all season but a month ago it hauled it in and overtook it, going top for the first time this term.

Juve had been going through a tough spell with six draws in seven games, but four wins on the bounce since then turned the tables.

Milan's win at Chievo put the rossoneri back in front but Juve reclaimed that place with victory over Lazio.

It promises to be a battle royale right to the end of the season and Nocerino vows that his side will fight all the way.

"We won't be letting up even for a second and we'll be playing every game like it's a final," he told Sky.

"We need to put Juventus under pressure and we can only do that by showing the same desire and performance that we did yesterday (at Chievo)."

The unbeaten Turin outfit found itself toppled at the summit by AC Milan the previous night after the Rossoneri won 1-0 at Chievo, but Simone Pepe set it on its way with the opening goal after half-an-hour.

Stefano Mauri equalised for the visitor on the stroke of half-time but Del Piero grabbed an 82nd-minute winner with a superb free-kick to lift Antonio Conte's side a point above Milan with six games left.

Libor Kozak was sent off in stoppage-time for a second bookable offence to add to Lazio's misery.

Roma struck twice late in the second half to defeat Udinese 3-1 and keep its Champions League hopes alive.

Daniel Osvaldo put the home team in front in the eighth minute, but Luis Enrique's side was pegged back as Gelson Fernandes equalised two minutes before half-time.

Udinese goalkeeper Samir Handanovic produced a wonderful display to repel Roma's efforts after the restart but could do nothing to keep out Francesco Totti's close-range effort four minutes from time, and Marquinho made it 3-1 at the death.

Napoli's hopes of securing European football suffered another setback as Walter Mazzarri's side fell to a 3-1 home defeat to Atalanta and had striker Goran Pandev sent off.

Giacomo Bonaventura's 10th-minute opener for the mid-table visitor sent Napoli on its way to a third consecutive league defeat which left Mazzarri's men outside the UEFA Europa League qualifying places.

Ezequiel Lavezzi equalised for the home side, but second-half scores by Gianpaolo Bellini Carlos Carmona put the game out of reach.

Diego Milito netted twice as Inter Milan snatched a 2-1 win to bolster its European bid at home to Siena.

The visitor took an eighth-minute lead through Gaetano D'Agostino only for Milito to level on 42 minutes.

The Argentina striker then grabbed the winner from the penalty spot on 81 minutes after substitute Yugo Nagatomo was felled in the area.

Siena's night got worse in stoppage-time when goalkeeper Gianluca Pegolo was dismissed for his protests with the referee.

The win moved Inter two points behind the Europa League places.

Elsewhere, Parma cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win over fellow struggler Novara thanks to first-half goals from Sebastian Giovinco and Jonathan Moreira.

Novara midfielder Marco Rigoni missed a penalty in the second half as the relegation-threatened visitor failed to make the breakthrough.

Cesena kept alive its slim hopes of avoiding the drop by salvaging a 1-1 draw at fellow struggler Genoa.

Marco Rossi opened the scoring for the home side at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, but Adrian Mutu's reply 14 minutes from time ensured the points were shared.

Lecce's bid to escape relegation received another boost as it struck twice in the last two minutes to come from behind and claim a 2-1 win at 10-man Catania.

Gonzalo Bergessio put Catania ahead in the 52nd minute and Lecce should have equalised after the hour mark but David Di Michele missed a penalty.

However, substitute Daniele Corvia drew Lecce level in the 88th minute with Catania goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo handed his marching orders for a second bookable offence. Di Michele then made amends for his earlier miss and netted the winner soon after.

Finally, Fiorentina was held to a goalless home draw by Palermo.

A goal from Sulley Muntari in the eighth minute was enough for the Rossoneri to take all three points and move above Juventus to the top of the table, although it was far from easy for Massimiliano Allegri's men.

They did the bare minimum to beat a Chievo side which was unfortunate not to equalise in the first half, but then tired in the second half in driving rain.

Allegri left Philippe Mexes out of his starting XI as a reaction for his mistake in the 2-1 defeat to Fiorentina at the weekend.

Former Chievo defender Mario Yepes took his place, but the Milan defence did not have any work to do until after Muntari gave the visitor the lead.

His powerful left-foot shot from outside the penalty area beat Stefano Sorrentino low into the bottom corner.

Chievo responded with former Milan striker Alberto Paloschi netting in the 24th minute, but a borderline offside decision ruled out his effort.

The home side continued to dominate proceedings as Milan seemed to struggle physically to keep up with it. Cyril Thereau went close before Sergio Pellissier missed a good opportunity from Paloschi's assist.

At the end of the half, Luca Rigoni missed the target and Milan somehow managed to hold out and defend its lead to the interval.

Chievo's failure to score in a dominant first-half performance proved costly as it was unable to summon the energy to carry on attacking in the second 45 minutes.

Milan had long since decided to preserve its lead, although it still had the best chance of the half when Zlatan Ibrahimovic's shot was saved.

The Rossoneri was successfully able to play down the clock to earn the three points which takes it two clear of Juventus, which hosts third-placed Lazio on Wednesday evening (Thursday morning AEST).

The Turin giants took advantage of AC Milan's 2-1 defeat to Fiorentina by beating Palermo 2-0 at the weekend to return to the top of Serie A.

"We didn't expect Milan to fall," said Pirlo, who joined Juventus last summer from Milan. "Now everything depends on us.

"We want to continue with our dream and think big.

"To hold a one-point advantage at this stage of the campaign means a lot.

"Each game from now on is a final and we have to be aware that we can also slip at any time.

"Our chances of winning the Scudetto are 50%."

Juve is unbeaten this season and go into Wednesday's home game against third-placed Lazio in great form.

The Bianconeri has kept a clean sheet in its last four league games while it has scored 12 times during that run.

Milan, in contrast, is licking its wounds after its loss to Fiorentina that followed on from a 1-1 draw at Catania the previous weekend.

Its recent setbacks has seen the Rossoneri throw away a four-point lead to drop to second place, one point adrift of Juventus.

Milan travel to Verona to face Chievo on Tuesday without the services of defender Daniele Bonera and midfielders Massimo Ambrosini and Alberto Aquilani, all suspended.

Saturday's 3-1 triumph over Parma was Udinese's first victory in six games and lifted the Friuli outfit three points behind Lazio, who hold the last Champions League qualifying spot.

Udinese travel to the Italian capital to face European hopefuls Roma.

Napoli is at home and will be bolstered by the return of midfielders Walter Gargano and Juan Zuniga from suspension when they take on Atalanta.

The Naples outfit is one point clear of Roma and hold the last Europa League qualifying spot.

Inter Milan is at the San Siro on Wednesday and host mid-table Siena desperate to keep alive its European qualification hopes.

The Nerazzurri was held to a 2-2 draw at Cagliari on Saturday and trail Napoli by three points.

Bologna will be without suspended captain Marco Di Vaio when they host Cagliari on Thursday. Di Vaio is Bologna's top scorer this season with 10 goals.

Fiorentina eased its relegation fears with its surprising win at AC Milan last time out.

The Viola is five points clear of the drop zone and come up against Palermo in Florence.

Lecce, who are 18th and four points adrift of the last position of safety, take on Catania in Sicily.

The Salentini halted a five-match winless run in Saturday's 4-2 triumph over Roma.

Genoa has not won a game since February 5 and is 17th in the standings, four points clear of the drop zone. They host bottom-side Cesena.

A win at Parma is a must for Novara if its is to have a realistic chance of retaining its Serie A status.

Novara lie in 19th place, 10 points from safety.

The Turin giant, which remains unbeaten in its 31 games so far, secured a 2-0 victory in Sicily thanks to goals from Leonardo Bonucci and Fabio Quagliarella and is on course for its first title since returning to the Italian top flight in 2007.

Bonucci's flicked header from an Andrea Pirlo corner broke the deadlock after 55 minutes and Quagliarella added the second after the ball was steered to him by Alessandro Matri.

The Bianconeri was indebted to bitter rival Fiorentina for regaining the number one spot, as Brazil-born forward Amauri scored the decisive 89th-minute goal in a 2-1 win against AC Milan at San Siro.

The home side took the lead after half-an-hour as Zlatan Ibrahimovic tucked home his 24th league goal of the campaign from the penalty spot, awarded for a foul by Matija Nastasic on Maxi Lopez.

However, the Viola drew level two minutes before the break when Stevan Jovetic applied the finish to Lorenzo de Silvestri's pass, and the Montenegrin then laid on the late chance which Amauri took to end the Rossoneri's nine-match unbeaten run.

The win also boosted the Florence side's survival hopes, although Lecce's 4-2 win over Roma means it is still only five points clear of the bottom three.

Lazio held onto the third and final UEFA Champions League qualifying spot with a 3-1 win over Napoli at the Stadio Olimpico.

Victory for Walter Mazzarri's team would have lifted it above Lazio into third on goal difference, but it fell behind to a ninth-minute goal from Antonio Candreva.

Goran Pandev (34) equalised against his former club, but Lazio regained the lead in spectacular style midway through the second period when Stefan Radu's cross from the left was met by a flying scissors kick from Stefano Mauri, and his sweet connection gave Morgan de Sanctis no chance.

Cristian Ledesma's 81st-minute penalty wrapped up the win, while Udinese climbed above Napoli into fourth with a 3-1 win over Parma at the Stadio Friuli.

It triumphed thanks to Kwadwo Asamoah's brace, which sandwiched Antonio di Natale's 21st Serie A goal of the season, with Alessandro Lucarelli netting Parma's only goal with six minutes to go. It was Udinese's first win in six league matches.

Roma's Champions League hopes were dented as it suffered a 4-2 defeat at Lecce, which cut the gap to safety to four points.

The Puglia team opened up a 2-0 advantage with goals from Luis Muriel and David di Michele, and the same duo were on target in the second period.

The Giallorossi pulled goals back through Bojan Krkic and Erik Lamela, but Lecce held on to end a five-match winless run and move within four points of Parma and Genoa.

Inter Milan was unable to capitalise on Roma's slip-up as it was held 2-2 against Cagliari, the nominal home side in a match being played in Trieste because of a dispute with the local council over the Sardinian side's Sant' Elia stadium.

Cagliari led twice through Davide Astori (five) and Mauricio Pinilla (61), but each time Inter hit back quickly through Argentinian duo Diego Milito and Esteban Cambiasso to keep up its hopes of salvaging UEFA Europa League qualification from a disappointing campaign.

Chievo boosted its survival hopes as a 3-2 home win over Catania took it 11 points clear of the bottom three.

American midfielder Michael Bradley gave it an early lead and Sergio Pellissier added a second from the penalty spot, having been brought down by Nicola Spolli, who was shown a red card.

Marco Andreolli's own goal gave the Sicilian side hope of extending its unbeaten run to nine games, but the Flying Donkeys restored their two-goal cushion as Pellissier teed up Alberto Paloschi for a close-range finish. Sergio Almiron tapped home a late second for Catania, which is just a point better off than Chievo.

Alberto Malesani's first match in charge of Genoa ended with a 1-1 draw at Novara. Rodrigo Palacio put the Rossoblu ahead in the seventh minute but second-bottom Novara proceeded to dominate the match and levelled through Giuseppe Mascara midway through the second half.

The result extended Genoa's winless run to 10 matches, while Novara remains five points better off than bottom side Cesena, which drew 0-0 at home to Bologna.

Siena climbed above fellow mid-table opponent Atalanta as Mattia Destro's injury-time goal condemned the Bergamaschi to only its third home defeat of the season.

Ezequiel Schelotto gave Atalanta the lead in the sixth minute but the Tuscan side recovered as Marcelo Larrondo's penalty drew it level, and Destro settled it in Siena's favour late on.

The Brazil international suffered his latest setback in the midweek 3-1 defeat at Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League.

Injuries have limited the 22-year-old to just 11 Serie A appearances for the Rossoneri this season.

A statement from the club read: "Alexandre Pato today has undergone an MRI that has revealed a muscle lesion in his left thigh.

"Pato will undergo further medical tests in 10 to 15 days' time."

Milan has tried to find a solution to Pato's ongoing injury problems. Only last week the South American travelled to the United States to have specific treatment on his left thigh.

"He has been all over, from Germany to America, in a bid to resolve his fragile muscles," Milan doctor Jean Pierre Meersseman told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Pato was declared fit on 13 occasions but evidently he wasn't healed.

"When I saw on the TV that he was injured I felt bad. I wasn't expecting it to go like that.

"His season is over. We will have to start again when he has healed."

Milan leads the Serie A standings and hosts Fiorentina on Sunday (AEST).