Juventus retains Serie A title with 1-0 win over Palermo

ROME - Juventus retained their Serie A title on Sunday after they beat Palermo 1-0 at home thanks to a second-half penalty from Arturo Vidal.

Juventus' coach Antonio Conte carries the "Scudetto" emblem at the end of the team's Italian Serie A soccer match against Palermo at the Juventus stadium in Turin, May 5, 2013. Juventus won Serie A for the second season running on Sunday, clinching the title with a 1-0 win over Palermo. [Photo/Agencies]

The "Old Lady" needed only one point from this game to snatch their second straight Scudetto, and their 29th in total, but the Vidal's penalty-kick in the 59th minute gave them three.

The win moves them 14 points clear in the table, beyond the catch of the nearest challengers Napoli with only three rounds of matches to spare.

They had to play the final seven minutes of the game one man less as Paul Pogba who was dismissed for spitting at Palermo defender Salvatore.

Antonio Conte, head coach of Juventus, thanked his players for their efforts to win in a tough season.

"We are very happy and satisfied. The credit goes to these extraordinary lads who went through a tough and tiring season, but were always on point," he said.

"I am proud of them, as it was not easy to win this year despite being favorites, as we knew the Champions League would take a lot of energy out of us," he said.

Mario Balotelli scored a late goal to help AC Milan put one foot in the Champions League with a 1-0 win at home to Torino.

"It is an important goal, but it will only be truly important if we manage to keep this gap over the next few rounds," Balotelli said.

Milan are now four points clear of fourth-placed Fiorentina in third - the final Champions League spot - and with three games left, they will have to go some to let it slip.

Miroslav Klose scored five goals as Lazio thrashed Bologna 6-0 at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Germany international netted his hat-trick before half-time and then came out firing again after the break to put Bologna to the sword in a dominant performance.

Hernanes also got onto the scoresheet for the home side with their second goal of the day, before Klose stole all of the headlines with a superb display.

Udinese's European hopes remain healthy thanks to a convincing 3-1 win over a Sampdoria side who are looking over their shoulder with a great deal of concern.

Marco Parolo and Jonathan Biabiany scored either side of half-time to boost Parma's hopes of a top-10 finish with a 2-0 win over Atalanta.

Genoa moved three points clear of the relegation zone and condemned Pescara to an immediate return to Serie B thanks to a 4-1 win at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Gonzalo Bergessio scored all three goals as Catania pushed 10-man Siena a step closer to the relegation trap door with a 3-0 win.

Juventus' supporters display a large Italian flag representing the 31st "Scudetto" victory at the end of the team's Italian Serie A soccer match against Palermo at the Juventus stadium in Turin, May 5, 2013. Juventus won Serie A for the second season running on Sunday, clinching the title with a 1-0 win over Palermo. [Photo/Agencies]