Lazio's clash with Juventus in Rome was an evenly balanced contest that never quite lived up to its promise. Chilean Marcelo Salas squandered the home side's best chance of the match when he fired a low shot at Juve goalkeeper Michelangelo Rampulla in the 16th minute after a fine through ball from Juan Veron. Juve's best opportunity fell to midfielder Gianluca Zambrotta soon after the interval but he fired a harmless shot across goal to the dismay of team mate Filippo Inzaghi, lurking on the edge of the six-metre box. Inzaghi's younger brother Simone was dismissed, apparently for dissent, after what appeared to be a harmless clash with Ciro Ferrara.

The draw suited Fabio Capello's Roma, who earlier recorded their first win in Udine for seven years. With playmaker Francesco Totti far from his best, the visitors only created three chances in 90 minutes. Delvecchio missed the first in the 44th minute, shooting straight at Luigi Turci with only the 'keeper to beat, but made no mistake with the other two. In the 73rd, defender Andrea Sottil fatally lost control of Vincent Candela's corner in his own six-metre box and Delvecchio pounced for the opener. Fourteen minutes later, a long Aldair ball set Delvecchio off on a 30-meter run which finished with a low shot into the far corner. "There are key moments in a match and you have to be ready to take them," Capello said, "but let's not talk about the championship. It's a long road yet."

Sebastiano Rossi saved a last minute Hernan Crespo penalty to ensure AC Milan beat Parma 2-1 at the San Siro and climbed to fifth place, level on points with neighbor Inter, 1-0 winners at Reggina with an 88th minute goal from Alvaro Recoba. Milan took eight minutes to shrug off last week's defeat at Juventus, Croat Zvonimir Boban slotting home a free kick. Parma dominated possession for the rest of the first half but had to wait until the 46th minute to equalise through a fine individual effort from Argentine Crespo. Poor defending meant Parma's joy was short-lived - in the 51st minute Boban swung in a free kick and Paolo Maldini appeared to get a touch at the near post before the ball entered the net. Deep into injury time Maldini needlessly tripped Croat Mario Stanic in the area But Rossi, playing his first league game in 12 months, saved the day for Milan by parrying Crespo's penalty.