Inter leapfrog AC Milan

But Inter were the big movers on Sunday, taking third slot with 46 points after leap-frogging AC Milan 45 pts and staking their claim to a place in the championship party at the end of the season.

However, beaten only once all season and vaunting a defensive record of just 11 goals conceded, Juventus still look like champions.

Alesandro del Piero set up their first for skipper Antonio Conte with a neat backheel and then successfully converted his sixth penalty of the season to wrap up the points in the 53rd minute.

Lazio, beaten 2-1 by Feyenoord in the European Champions League last week, bounced back by beating Lecce, albeit by a single goal.

Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved smacked home the winner, a 37th minute volley from the edge of the area.

Inter conceded a 90th minute penalty to Andriy Shevchenko but the earlier goals from Chilean Ivan Zamorano and Luigi di Biagio saw them home.