Juve clear at top while Milan stumble again

Juventus maintained their 100 percent record at the start of the Serie A season with a 2-0 victory at previously unbeaten Lazio on Saturday.

But fellow giants AC Milan suffered more misery as they were held 0-0 at promoted Livorno.

Martin Caceres scored his first goal for Juve and former France international forward David Trezeguet wrapped up the scoring deep into injury time to take the Old Lady of Turin three points clear at the top, for a day at least.

Trezeguet made his first start of the season with Italy striker Vincenzo Iaquinta rested following his midweek international exploits and the former Monaco man was lively early on.

Twice in the first quarter of an hour he had shots from corners but Lazio goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was alert enough to save.

The Frenchman was delighted to have started a match following a season in which he made only eight league appearances, and mostly as a substitute.

“It’s great, last year was really tough, I was out of the team and didn’t contribute,” he said.

“I’ve worked hard to return to this level, I’ve worked hard and all my team-mates have helped. I’m delighted to be playing at the top level again and able to play until the final whistle.”

On 21 minutes Serbia international Aleksandar Kolarov went close for the hosts with a long range free-kick that Gianluigi Buffon did well to parry.

The half finished in controversy when Lazio midfielder Stefano Mauri put the ball in the net only for the referee to chalk it off.

Juventus centre-back Nicola Legrottaglie, deputising for rested Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro, flopped to the ground as the ball pinged around the visitors’ box, with the ball hitting his arm before Mauri slammed home the rebound.

However, the referee gave a free-kick to Juve for a foul on Legrottaglie.

Early in the second period Brazilian forward Amauri came close to heading home a Fabio Grosso cross from six yards with an open goal at his mercy but the ball brushed off his head and away to safety.

But Uruguayan Caceres, a summer signing from Barcelona, thrashed home a brilliantly half-volley on 72 minutes after Trezeguet and Amauri had caused havoc in the box.

And the Frenchman put the cherry on the cake with virtually the last kick of the match, shooting in off Muslera from close range.

Woeful Milan had stand-in goalkeeper Marco Storari to thank for salvaging a point against Serie A minnows Livorno.

Just two weeks after their meek surrender against bitter city rivals Inter Milan — a 4-0 home defeat — Leonardo’s men were second best against a team expected to struggle to stay up this season.

Ronaldinho was virtually anonymous and hauled off for Andrea Pirlo soon after the interval — the Italy midfielder having been rested after playing two matches for Italy last week.

Pirlo came closest to scoring in the second period, crashing a free-kick against the bar but that did little to mask another disappointing performance and result for the seven-time European champions.

Leonardo, though, remained defiant and insisted his team were on the right path.

“They showed a great desire to win. Our second 45 minutes were good, we created many chances and I was convinced that at any moment we could score,” he said, before defending his Brazilian compatriot Ronaldinho.

“If the team plays badly, then so does he. But that’s enough judging individuals. He’s irreplaceable for this team, as are all the players.”