Gattuso helps AC Milan beat Juventus 1-0

Milan: Gennaro Gattuso ended a run of more than three years without a goal to give Serie A leader AC Milan a 1-0 win over Juventus on Saturday.

The defensive midfielder struck midway through the second half to decide a dour game in which both sides struggled to break down one another's defence and create chances.

Juventus talked of derailing Milan's progress to the title but lacked ideas and a cutting edge. Coach Luigi Delneri eventually turned to the team's talisman Alessandro Del Piero but even he failed to spark any life.

Milan leads the Serie A by eight points from Inter Milan, which could close the gap to five by beating Genoa on Sunday.

The loss was Juventus' seventh in its last 11 games.

"We still have 10 games to go," Gattuso said. "It is still a long way and we have to play Inter. We're leading by eight points, but if Inter wins tomorrow, it's back to five."

Juventus had the first shot on goal, after two minutes. Felipe Melo raced forward from central midfield but the Brazilian slipped as he was shooting and the ball went harmlessly wide.

Milan hit back straight away and Zlatan Ibrahimovic volleyed Mathieu Flamini's cross over the bar from close in.

Cassano then wasted the best chance in the 23rd when Kevin Prince Boateng picked him out unmarked in the area. He cut inside Armand Traore but blazed his shot over the bar.

Robinho came on for Boateng at halftime but the move failed to have any immediate effect. Eventually though, Milan's greater attacking intent was rewarded. Ibrahimovic headed the ball into Gattuso's path, he broke away from Andrea Barzagli and fired a low shot past Gianluigi Buffon.

It was the midfielder's first goal since he scored in the UEFA Cup against Heerenveen in October 2008 and his first in Serie A since the match against Atalanta in January 2008.

Juventus talisman Del Piero came on with just over 10 minutes remaining but there was little the 36-year-old could do to turn the result in the home team's favour.

"It has been 17 or 18 games that we have been top," Gattuso said. "Today's win was a good sign of our intentions but we still have to take it game by game and then we will see."