Juventus wins, extends lead to 9 points

JUVENTUS extended its lead atop the Italian Serie A to a commanding nine points on Sunday with a stoppage-time 1-0 win over visiting Catania, while second-place Napoli lost 0-2 at Chievo Verona.

Emanuele Giaccherini scored the winner for Juventus in the first minute of added time, finding the target from the edge of the box following a cross from Paul Pogba, the 19-year-old French forward who left Manchester United after last season.

"I hope my goal is the one that seals the title," Giaccherini said. "Now we've got to wrap it up."

In Verona, Senegalese defender Boukary Drame put Chievo ahead 12 minutes in and French forward Cyril Thereau doubled the lead in the 43rd as Napoli goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis had a disappointing day.

Napoli striker Edinson Cavani also struggled, having a penalty saved by Chievo goalie Christian Puggioni in the 13th.

"Looking at the other results, today's points are worth much more than the regular three," Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said. "They're worth at least six. I think Milan is the best in form of the followers."

With only 10 rounds remaining in the Italian league, Napoli at this point should be more worried about getting overtaken by third-place AC Milan, which is just two points behind after beating Genoa 2-0 on Friday to extend its unbeaten streak to 11 matches ahead of today's key Champions League match at Barcelona.

"There are still 30 points up for grabs," Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri said. "We have 10 'finals' from now until the end of the season."

Meanwhile, Fiorentina moved into fourth with a 2-0 win at Lazio, which dropped down into a tie for fifth with Inter Milan following its 0-1 loss at home to Bologna.

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