Juventus and Torino draw in scoreless city derby

A header from Juve striker Vincenzo Iaquinta slapped high by Matteo Sereni was the only thrill in a dull first half for the fans filling Turin's Stadio Olimpico.

 As Juve slightly prevailed in a game played mostly in midfield, Uruguayan Alvaro Recoba and twice Juve captain Alessandro Del Piero misfired free-kick chances despite their sharpshooter fame.

 Del Piero had a good chance seven minutes into the second half when he freed himself at the limit of the area but saw Sereni block his low shot.

 The game gathered steam as Juve pressed forward, but Torino came close on 62 minutes through Recoba, who had his break blocked by a well-timed effort from Sergio Chiellini.

 Juve's international goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon blocked without problems a Paolo Zanetti drive, but was harmless on 74 minutes as Alessandro Rosina curled a free kick against the bar.

 Del Piero had come close on 68 minutes drilling another free kick at the junction of bar and post only to see Sereni deflect with a prodigious dive.

 Sereni ran a last risk on a corner kick as Iaquinta missed a deflection inside the goal area, while Juve veteran Pavel Nedved received his marching orders in injury time for pulling the hair of Gianluca Comotto.

 Juve remained third on 48 points, with Torino moving up in mid-table on a tally of 27 points.

 The remaining games of the 25th round are set for Wednesday, when leaders Inter Milan take on second-place Roma looking to virtually secure their third straight title.

 Inter are the only unbeaten side on 60 points, while Roma trail nine points adrift with 14 games left.