MILAN, 2 May 2005 — Juventus kept pace with AC Milan in the Serie A title race with a 2-1 win over Bologna yesterday that left the two clubs level at the top before their head-to-head meeting next week.

Goals from Fabio Cannavaro and Marcelo Zalayeta gave Fabio Capello’s side a win which lifted them to 76 points and alongside Milan who beat Fiorentina 2-1 on Saturday.

Four rounds of games remain in the season and, if the teams remain level on points, they face a two-leg playoff.

Away from the title race, there was no shortage of goals with relegation threatened Parma beating Livorno 6-4 and Lecce defeating Lazio 5-3, four players scoring hat tricks in those games.

Winger Mauro Camoranesi set up both goals for Juventus, the first coming when a cross by the Italy international was met by a powerful header from Cannavaro that put Juve in front.

Zalayeta’s header from a Camoranesi free-kick made it 2-0 in the 24th minute but three minutes later a superb free-kick from Federico Giunti brought Bologna back in to the game.

Bologna almost snatched a late equalizer when Claudio Bellucci’s low drive whistled into the side netting.

Parma’s decision to rest striker Alberto Gilardino for their UEFA Cup semifinal against CSKA Moscow in midweek paid off handsomely as he scored four times in the win over Livorno, which put Parma two points clear of the relegation zone.

In a remarkable match, Cristiano Lucarelli scored all four goals for Livorno but was not the only man to score a hat trick away from home and still end up on the losing side.

Tommaso Rocchi scored all three goals for Lazio in their defeat at Lecce.

On a high-scoring day in Serie A, Serbian striker Mirko Vucinic scored three for Lecce.

Lazio had Brazilian Cesar sent off in the 48th minute while Lecce’s former Chelsea midfielder Samuele Dalla Bona was dismissed in the 66th minute.

Roma’s winless run was extended to nine matches as they drew 2-2 at home to Brescia, Vincenzo Montella having a late penalty saved which left Roma just five points away from the relegation zone.

Third-placed Inter Milan beat Siena 2-0 with a penalty from Argentine forward Julio Ricardo Cruz and a Christian Vieri goal.

Sampdoria and Udinese now share fourth place, which brings a spot in the qualifying round of the Champions League, after Samp were held to a 2-2 draw in Sicily against Messina.

Udinese beat bottom club Atalanta 2-1, moving them level with Samp on 56 points.

As with the title battle, teams finishing on level points for European qualification positions at the end of the season will play off — goal difference does not apply in Serie A.

Sixth-placed Palermo, hoping for a place in the UEFA Cup next season, host Chievo Verona later on Sunday.

Man United Hammer Charlton to Pressure Arsenal

In London, teenage striker Wayne Rooney helped Manchester United to a thumping 4-0 win at Charlton Athletic yesterday to close within a point of Arsenal in the sprint to next season’s Champions League.

A day after Chelsea won the Premier League title with a 2-0 win at Bolton Wanderers, the race for European soccer continued with United’s win and a 5-1 victory for Tottenham Hotspur over Aston Villa which moved Spurs into a provisional UEFA Cup slot.