Bosnian midfielder Hasan Salihamidzic scored a brace last night as Juventus tightened their grip on third place in the Serie A with a 3-2 victory over Milan in Turin.

With both teams needing a win to maintain their charge for a top-four position, it was Juventus who capitalised on Daniele Bonera's sending-off midway through the second half to increase the pressure on under-fire Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Defeat for Milan (52) left them four points behind fourth-placed Fiorentina (56) who are away to leaders Inter (72) tonight.

Sampdoria, who also have 52 points, will overtake Milan in fifth place if they win at bottom side Reggina.

Juventus forced a breakthrough after 12 minutes, captain Alessandro Del Piero hitting the target with a low shot.

Filippo Inzaghi drove the ball just wide of the near post but atoned for his miss moments later when he tucked the ball past Gianluigi Buffon from close range.

Milan went 2-1 on the half-hour mark when Bonera squared to Inzaghi who tapped the ball home.

An action-filled first half produced another goal in the dying moments and it was the home team who made it two-all. Mauro Camoranesi's swerving cross from the right caught the Milan defence off balance as the ball sailed towards David Trezeguet whose point-blank header was parried by Zeljko Kalac but Salihamidzic scrambled the ball home.

Milan's hopes suffered a setback on 66 minutes when Bonera was given a straight red card for a nasty foul on Mohamed Sissoko.

Juve regained the upperhand as the end of the game drew closer. Their efforts paid off 11 minutes from time when Salihamidzic netted his second of the game, heading the ball past Kalac after another fine cross by Camoranesi from a free-kick.

In yesterday's early match, Fabrizio Miccoli's free-kick gave Palermo a second consecutive victory at the expense of Sicilian rivals Catania.

Miccoli decided a balanced match six minutes from time. He earned a free-kick and promptly curled a superb finish over the wall and in at the near post.