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Alessandro Del Piero sent three shots clattering into the woodwork, though Juventus lacked incision from open play, while their defence struggled to cope with the movement of Gyan Asamoah and Di Natale.

Indeed the decisive goal came from the forehead of Di Natale, capping one of the finer attacking moves of the match.

Udinese had opted to banish &lsquokeeper Andrea Chimenti to the bench after he let five goals in against Napoli before the international break, replacing him the Samir Handanovic. And if the Slovenian was in nervous mood ahead of his first game for his new club, he had the luxury of a stubborn and dogged defence to protect him.

Juve's best move of the game came just ten mintues in as Mauro Camoranesi flighted a ball to Pavel Nedved at the far post, and his knock-down was immediately seized upon by Del Piero, who spun and rifled a volley straight at the near post.

After struggling to keep the ball early on, Udinese slowly came into the game, and an Asamoah volley that flashed over the bar from close range gave a glimpse of their attacking threat.

Del Piero again left the woodword rattling on the half-hour mark with a fierce free-kick from the edge of the box, and the Udinese defence then struggled to deal with a subsequent flurry of corners.

Udinese went ahead at the start of the second half, catching Juve cold with a fine move. Gokhan Inler clipped a pass over the top of the defence for Andrea Dossena, who had the presence of mind to nod it square for Di Natale, who in turn glanced home into the back of the net.

Gyan Asamoah almost doubled the lead 15 minutes later, drilling a right-foot volley into the near post after getting ahead of Giorgio Chiellini.

With Camoranesi now off injured, it was left to Nedved to provide the spark of inspiration needed to haul the Bianconeri back into the game, though he came up against a determined Udinese back line.

Tomas Zapotocny and Andrea Coda kept a close eye on substitute Vincenzo Iaquinta as the clock ticked down, and on the one occasion the striker did evade their attentions and find the back of the net, the whistle had already gone for a foul by Del Piero on Coda.

The addition of five minutes of injury tie gave Juve hope, but when Del Piero struck the underside of the woodwork yet again, it became evident it would not be their day.

INTER EASE PAST CATANIA

Hernan Crespo and Cesar grabbed a goal apiece as Internazionale moved into second spot in Serie A with a 2-0 home win over Catania.

Crespo turned home Douglas Maicon's pass at the back post to set the Nerazzurri on their way in the 14th minute, and Cesar wrapped up the win with a fine finish ten minutes from time.

Roberto Mancini opted to align Adriano alongside Crespo in attack, and while the Brazilian turned in an erratic performance that characterised his last 12 months at the San Siro, his strike partner was a hive of activity, posing problems for the Catania defence in and around the area.

He saw a dangerous ball across goal intercepted by a last-ditch interception after bursting through the defence on eight minutes, and gave his side the lead soon after, sidefooting home from Maicon's pass. Catania may feel aggrieved when they see the replays of the move, which suggested Adriano had handled in the build up while going to ground.

The big Brazilian then passed up a glorious chance to double the lead, slamming his volley into the ground after having been played onside by Rocco Sabato.

Catania, who had spent much of the first half chasing the game, came to life after the break. Mariano Julio Izco and Giuseppe Mascara combined beautifully to release Gionatha Spinesi, though the forward fired his shot straight at the onrushing Julio Cesar.

Spinesi was again allowed a sight at goal after a poor touch from Ivan Cordoba on the edge of the area, though this time he dragged his shot well wide.

With the visitors piling forward in numbers in search of an equaliser, they left themselves exposed at the back, and were duly hit on the break with ten minutes to go. Zlatan Ibrahimovic released Cesar on the left with a measured through ball, and the Brazilian journeyman rifled home over the dive of Albano Bizzarri and into the roof of the net.

Adriano almost grabbed a goal on the stroke of full-time after a burst of pace took him clear of the Catania defence, though this time Bizzarri stood tall and pulled off a smart reaction save.

OTHER GAMES

GENOA 1 LIVORNO 1

The visitors finally picked up a point after conceding nine goals in their opening two defeats.

Livorno scored first through Francesco Tavano's penalty on 53 minutes after Francesco Bega had brought down Giovanni Pasquale.

Marco Borriello soon equalised for the home side with a deft header from Marco Rossi's excellent cross but the end of the game was marred by dismissals for Livorno's Vidigal and Genoa's Ivan Juric for second yellow cards.

Omar Milanetto hit the bar with an early spot kick for the home side after former Milan striker Borriello had been pulled back on the byline by Alessandro Grandoni.

NAPOLI 2 SAMPDORIA 0

Former Juve striker Marcelo Zalayeta took advantage of a dreadful mix-up between Samp keeper Luca Castellazzi and defender Alessandro Bastrini to slot into an empty net just before halftime.

Marek Hamsyk made sure of the points with 15 minutes remaining.

Zalayeta, who now has three goals this season, had earlier rattled the bar with a strong header as promoted Napoli built on their 5-0 demolition of Udinese last time out.

PALERMO 1 TORINO 1

Brazilian midfielder Simplicio prodded home after four minutes when Aimo Diana's hopeful pass found its way through the Torino defence.

On-loan Inter Milan playmaker Alvaro Recoba then equalised with a neat finish with the outside of this boot early in the second period.

REGGINA 0 ROMA 2

Brazil defender Juan put the visitors in front when he went round the back of the defence to flick home a free kick just after halftime.

Reggina's Carlos Valdez was then dismissed almost immediately for a dangerous studs-up tackle on Simone Perrotta and Roma's Ludovic Giuly had a penalty appeal refused.

Francesco Totti calmed any Roma nerves with a second five minutes from time to send last season's runners-up clear at the top as the only side with three wins from three.

PARMA 1 CAGLIARI 1

Bernardo Corradi grabbed the equaliser for the home side in the 72nd minute with a superb swivelling finish in his first game since moving on loan from Manchester City.

The visitors had taken the lead just before half-time when Alessandro Matri blasted into an empty net after a free kick into the box rebounded off the post into the striker's path.

Parma were given a debatable penalty midway through the second half but Paolo Castellini's effort was easily saved by Marco Fortin.

Reuters / Eurosport