Only the frame of the goal and some fantastic goalkeeping ensured the big game Milan-Juventus ended in a stalemate at the San Siro. Sampdoria thumped a hapless Reggina 3-0 in Genoa.

These two sides dominated Serie A in the 1990s, but this was a head-to-head battle to stay in the Scudetto race, especially for a Milan outfit that had not won a single domestic game at San Siro this season. Ronaldo, Marek Jankulovski, Mauro Camoranesi and Zdenek Grygera were sidelined and Claudio Ranieri surprisingly chose to drop Alessandro Del Piero.

It was immediately a very aggressive and fast-paced game. Vincenzo Iaquinta chested down the ball for David Trezeguet to drill wide, but the move was stopped for an incorrect offside flag.

Trezeguet went even closer on 11 minutes, as Cristiano Zanetti won back the ball in midfield and placed the searching pass over the defence for the Frenchman's volley to smack against the base of the near post.

Gigi Buffon slapped a corner kick off Kakha Kaladze's head at the back post, then Clarence Seedorf toe-poked the ball inches past the upright. Nelson Dida smothered a Zanetti volley and Kaladze required a perfectly-timed intervention to prevent Iaquinta going clear on goal.

Alberto Gilardino was halted for a very tight offside flag and Nicola Legrottaglie was booked for stopping a Kaka counter. Buffon got down well to block an Andrea Pirlo snapshot that bounced just in front of the goalkeeper.

Cristian Molinaro did extremely well to take Pirlo's long pass off Kaka's feet in the D, then Pavel Nedved cut back past Kaladze with a dummy and slipped as he pulled the trigger from 10 yards. Alessandro Nesta had penalty appeals for a Jonathan Zebina embrace, but Trezeguet's first-time pass set Nedved free and Serginho nodded out for a corner before Iaquinta could pounce.

Straight after the restart Juventus had perhaps their best chance so far. Hasan Salihamidzic skipped past Serginho with some wonderful footwork, his fierce rising strike bringing a brilliant one-handed save out of Dida. The move continued and Nedved's follow-up was charged down.

Moments later Buffon was also called into a fantastic reaction save with his shin from Kaka's volley. Gilardino put the loose ball into the net, but he was flagged offside.

Gilardino was furious when he just failed to get on the end of Kaka's cross, as he felt he was held back by Legrottaglie as the two came sliding in to the six-yard box.

Dida got down well to capture a touched-on Iaquinta free kick, while Buffon had difficulty spilling a Pirlo set-piece and grabbing it at the second attempt after it had looped into the air. Molinaro exchanged passes with Nedved, but the taut cross flashed across the face of goal with Iaquinta and Trezeguet unable to get the final touch.

Carlo Ancelotti went for experience, introducing Pippo Inzaghi and Paolo Maldini for Gilardino and the disappointing Serginho. Zebina slipped and almost left Kaka clear on goal before Legrottaglie cleaned up.

Kaka turned between three defenders and had his shot charged down by Legrottaglie. Inzaghi showed he can still ride the offside flag as his powerful effort was parried by Buffon at point-blank range.

Ranieri also made a double substitution with Del Piero and Marco Marchionni on for Salihamidzic and Iaquinta. Nesta intercepted a pass just before Del Piero could bury it, then veteran Maldini skipped between two defenders for Seedorf's cross-shot.

Maldini was almost the unlikely match-winner in the final minute, his strike whistling over the bar from the edge of the box.

In stoppages Massimo Ambrosini rolled a ball across the box for Inzaghi, but Buffon stood his ground and managed to use his legs to shield the goal.

A minute later it was Legrottaglie's turn to charge down a Kaka curler from the edge of the penalty area. 

Milan: Dida; Oddo (Bonera 78), Nesta, Kaladze, Serginho (Maldini 63); Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Seedorf, Kaka; Gilardino (Inzaghi 63)
Juventus: Buffon; Zebina, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Salihamidzic (Marchionni 71), Nocerino, Zanetti; Nedved (Palladino 81); Trezeguet, Iaquinta (Del Piero 71)
Ref: Morganti

Antonio Cassano inspired Sampdoria to a 3-0 thrashing of Reggina, but risks a ban after using foul language to the referee and Coach Renzo Ulivieri.

The pupil took on his master at Marassi as Sampdoria boss Walter Mazzarri faced veteran Renzo Ulivieri. It was also deja vu for both tacticians, as Mazzarri left Reggina in the summer and Ulivieri was in charge of Samp between 1981 and '84.

Vincenzo Montella is out for two months, but Cassano made his comeback from injury and immediately took centre stage. He won a series of free kicks and got several players booked as his mazy runs wreaked havoc in the Amaranto back line.

Within five minutes he had created the opener for Claudio Bellucci. Threading an inch-perfect pass through Maurizio Lanzaro's legs, it was simple for Bellucci to then beat Campagnolo at the near post.

The first half was all Samp, as Palombo drilled just past the post before on 17 minutes Sergio Volpi's corner was not dealt with effectively and Bellucci smacked his snapshot against the upright.

Paolo Sammarco's overhead kick from a Cassano assist was off target, then Luigi Sala just failed to get his head to a Volpi set play. The former Roma and Real Madrid starlet's first half performance was almost impeccable, but he wasted a golden opportunity when he interrupted a pass in midfield and the assist for Bellucci was too weak when three on two.

Before the break Bellucci was fortunate to avoid a second booking when he went through the back of Emil Hallfredsson. He remained on the field and exploded a free kick that flashed across the face of goal.

Reggina also risked a red card as Simone Missiroli - already booked - hacked down the unstoppable Cassano. The visitors were at least trying now and substitute Edgar Barreto's snapshot was comfortably smothered, but that opened up more space and the Blucerchiati took advantage.

Sampdoria doubled their lead in chaotic fashion. A corner kick took a series of deflections and shots were charged down before Sammarco managed to squeeze his shot in from nine yards.

Inter Milan have maintained their unbeaten start to the Serie A season with an impressive 2-0 win at Fiorentina.

The Viola could have moved to within a point of Roberto Mancini's men with a victory but that eventuality never looked likely once Luis Jimenez put Inter in front after nine minutes.

Julio Cruz doubled the visitors' lead a minute before half-time and Inter cruised through the second half to move three points clear of a chasing pack led by Roma.

The Giallorossi beat fourth-placed Udinese 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico to maintain their challenge.

The Eternal City giants took the lead through Juan in the 11th minute before Fabio Quagliarella restored parity for the visitors a minute later.

But a Rodrigo Taddei strike in the 27th minute ensured all three points for Roma against an Udinese side whose hopes of getting back on level terms were effectively dashed with 12 minutes to go when Giampiero Pinzi and Andrea Dossena were sent off in quick succession.

Roma's victory takes them two points clear of Juventus, who had been held to a goalless draw at AC Milan a day earlier.

Atalanta moved up to sixth with a 5-1 hammering of Napoli in Bergamo.

Sergio Floccari, Antonio Langella, Cristiano Doni, Morris Carrozzieri and Adriano Pinto all netted for the hosts with Roberto Sosa grabbing the sole reply for the shell-shocked visitors.

The Sicilian derby between Catania and Palermo went the way of the home side, who won 3-1.

The corresponding fixture at the Angelo Massimino Stadium last year saw an eruption of violence outside the ground which led to the death of policeman Filippo Raciti.

This time, the match went off peacefully with Catania earning the bragging rights over their more illustrious neighbours.

A Giuseppe Mascara strike and a Gionatha Spinesi penalty put Silvio Baldini's men in charge.

Fabio Caserta pulled one back but was then sent off almost immediately for a poor tackle on Giuseppe Colucci.

Catania took full advantage with Jorge Martinez netting a third to make it a losing return for Francesco Guidolin, who is back for a fourth spell in charge of Palermo.

Cagliari and Livorno could not muster a goal between them while Massimo Paci scored the winner as Parma edged out rock-bottom Empoli 1-0.

Siena and Lazio fought out a 1-1 draw, Massimo Maccarone cancelling out Goran Pandev's opener.

The evening game, between Torino and Genoa, finished in a 1-1 draw.

Marco Borriello put the visitors in front two minutes into the second half but Salvatore Lanna levelled matters 10 minutes later.

Serie A Table after Round 14