Juventus 3 - 0 Chievo
There's no stopping Juventus at the moment, but Chievo wasted a host of golden opportunities to cause an upset.
Fabio Capello was forced to make massive changes with Emerson suspended and Gianluca Zambrotta and Jonathan Zebina injured. Surprisingly, he also opted to leave Alessandro Del Piero on the bench in favour of Marcelo Zalayeta and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Chievo lost their unbeaten record to Sampdoria midweek, but Federico Cossato struggled on despite a knee injury. The visitors had a good start, especially on the flanks, and Cossato just failed to get on the end of Sergio Pellissier's cutback.
Yet the first save was from Luca Marchegiani, who perhaps didn't have much time to react before Alessandro Birindelli's fierce free kick slammed into him.
Daniele Franceschini's effort was charged down by Mauro Camoranesi's arm, but it was close to his body and therefore considered to be involuntary. Franceschini was again dangerous moments later, when his free kick was deflected inches over the crossbar by the defensive wall.
Pavel Nedved gathered Zlatan Ibrahimovic's pass and ran past three defenders, but his finish left a lot to be desired.
The deadlock was eventually broken after 25 minutes when Marcelo Zalayeta volleyed in a chipped pass from Manuele Blasi.
Chievo felt hard done by soon after when an incorrect offside decision stopped Federico Cossato as he was one on one with Gianluigi Buffon.
Just before the break Marchegiani surpassed himself with a stunning reaction save on Nedved, though much of the credit for this move goes to Zalayeta's intelligent backheel inside the area.
Salvatore Lanna's crucial intervention prevented Ibrahimovic reaching Camoranesi's cross at the back post as the second half kicked off.
Chievo had a golden opportunity to get back into the game on the hour mark, but Cossato slipped and turned Sergio Pellissier's inviting cross wide with only Buffon to beat.
The Flying Donkeys were made to rue that mistake, as moments later Juventus doubled their lead with Pavel Nedved. Substitute Olivier Kapo rolled the ball across for the Czech, who placed a magnificent long range effort into the top corner.
Simone Tiribocchi nearly put Chievo back into it in acrobatic fasion, as his karate kick finish went over the bar, then Cossato somehow turned a free header off target from eight yards.
But Juve are top of the table because they don't waste their opportunities and in the closing minutes Zlatan Ibrahimovic got on the scoresheet. He used his strength to fight off his marker and latch on to Lilian Thuram's searching pass.
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Juventus: Buffon; Birindelli (Tudor 80), Thuram, Cannavaro, Pessotto; Camoranesi, Tacchinardi, Blasi, Nedved; Ibrahimovic, Zalayeta (Kapo 64)
Chievo: Marchegiani; Moro, Mandelli, D'Anna, Lanna; Semioli, Brighi, Baronio (Allegretti 67), Franceschini; Cossato, Pellissier (Tiribocchi 72)
Ref: Pieri
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