Juventus will have to wait another week to wrap up the Italian title after they were held to a goalless draw at Lazio on Saturday.

Juve would have secured their 27th championship had they won at the Olympic stadium in Rome as closest rivals Inter Milan failed to win at Atalanta.

But despite fielding their strongest side ahead of the Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid on Tuesday, titleholders Juventus drew a blank against a Lazio side seeking a top four finish.

Lazio could have completed a prestigious league double over the Italian champions had Stefano Fiore's 84th minute penalty not been saved by Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Juventus, who hold an eight point lead over Inter with three games to go, play at home to Perugia next Saturday.

Juve coach Marcello Lippi

admitted his side were second best against the defeated UEFA Cup semi-finalists.

"Lazio were excellent," he said. "We had to work very hard to deny them space, as when they had it they were very dangerous.

"It wasn't easy coping with the situation, especially as we play in Madrid in three days."

Lazio coach Roberto Mancini said Juventus won't have to wait long to crack open the champagne.

"I don't think they will have any difficulty. They will celebrate the championship in Turin," he said.

Asked about his team's chances of qualifying for the Champions League next season, Mancini replied: "I believe we will reach 59 or 60 points. We have a three point advantage over Chievo and qualification is almost ours.

"It's a shame because we could have won today."

Buffon was Juventus' hero in front of a capacity crowd in the capital, making splendid saves to deny Lazio's South American duo Cesar and Claudio Lopez in the first-half, before outwitting Fiore six minutes from time.

Inter failed to reduce Juventus' advantage by drawing 1-1 in Bergamo.

After the hosts had spurned two excellent chances in the opening stages, Inter broke swiftly to take the lead in the 13th minute.

Domenico Morfeo played a short pass through the middle for Obafemi Martins to run onto, and the Nigerian youngster sped clear of the home defence before steering the ball wide of Alex Calderoni for his first Serie A goal.

But Atalanta, struggling to stay in the top flight, fought back and deservedly drew level 19 minutes from time.

Tira Vugrinec's weak right-foot shot was spilled by Francesco Toldo, allowing Carmine Gautieri an easy tap-in at the far post.

Inter president Massimo Moratti refused to concede the title, even though his team need to win their three remaining matches and hope Juventus will slip up.

"Until it is mathematically impossible we won't say farewell to the championship," he said.

Moratti, whose side play local rivals AC Milan in the semi-finals of

the Champions League on Wednesday, was unhappy that Inter were unable to make the most of a hatful of chances.

"In the first-half we were good, well organised and tight at the back," he said.

"But in the second-half we played too deep and lacked something in attack."

Moratti voiced his displeasure at coach Hector Cuper's decision

not to bring on a striker in place of teenage forward Martins, who was substituted late in the second-half.

"Martins went off because he was tired, but I thought we would bring on another forward," he added.

Third-placed AC Milan moved four points clear of Lazio after beating Como 2-0 at the San Siro, a defeat that sent the visitors back down to Serie B.

Filippo Inzaghi's first-half penalty, his 16th league goal of the season, gave Milan the lead, before Alessandro Nesta converted Rivaldo's corner to condemn Como to their 16th defeat of a torrid campaign.

Torino were also relegated after losing 1-0 to Udinese, Vincenzo Iaquinta's goal nine minutes from time securing three valuable points for Luciano Spalletti's men, who are hoping to clinch a UEFA Cup spot.

Chievo improved their chances of pipping Lazio to the final Champions League spot with a 3-1 home win over strugglers Piacenza, while Parma, also in the hunt for fourth place, crashed 2-1 at home to Bologna.

Southerners Reggina, fighting for their Serie A survival, lost 3-2 at home to improving AS Roma, the 2001 champions.

In the day's other matches, Modena drew 1-1 with Empoli and Perugia were held to a 0-0 draw by Brescia.