Juventus beat Lazio at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico to take over sole leadership of the Serie A standings.

Martin Caceres put Juve ahead in the 72nd minute before French striker David Trezeguet settled the affair deep into injury time.

The two teams began the third game of the season with 100 per cent records but there was little excitement in a match high in technical quality.

Fabio Grosso, back in Serie A after spending two years with Lyon, was included in Ciro Ferrara’s Juventus starting XI.

Davide Ballardini’s decision to rest Argentina striker Mauro Zarate weakened his side, with Julio Cruz unable to make much of an impact on the night.

Juve looked dangerous in the opening stages. They first tested Fernando Muslera after 10 minutes, with the Lazio goalkeeper doing well to clear Trezeguet’s 30-yard volley from Amauri’s assist.

The hosts finally broke through Juve’s defence midway through the first half, with Aleksandar Kolarov surging inside the area before firing in a powerful left-foot strike that was parried away by Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

At the other end, Diego’s stinging free-kick warmed Muslera’s palms but it was Lazio who continued to surge forward.

On the half-hour mark, Roberto Baronio tried his luck from the distance and it was met by a good save by Buffon.

Lazio put a good move together after 35 minutes, with Ousmane Dabo setting up an unmarked Pasquale Foggia, whose left-foot effort from the edge of the area flew just over the bar.

Juve then suffered a blow just before the break when the influential Diego picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Sebastian Giovinco.

Lazio thought they had broken the deadlock before half-time when Sebastiano Siviglia got behind Kolarov’s indirect free-kick and fired into the back of the net only for the referee to disallow the ‘goal’ after Cruz had pushed a Juve defender inside the area.

The Turin giants missed a great chance to go in front early in the second half.

Despite Amauri’s desperate attempt, he was unable to get on the end of Grosso’s dangerous cross towards the far post.

On the hour mark, Giovinco latched onto Grosso’s cross but his weak header inside the area was saved by Muslera.

The ever-present Giovinco then set up Trezeguet inside the area but his central strike did not trouble Muslera.

At the other end, Giorgio Chiellini did well to clear Stephan Lichtsteiner’s cross, with Foggia waiting to punish Juve.

Juve’s efforts were finally rewarded with 18 minutes remaining.

Caceres latched onto a loose ball inside the Lazio area and fired a right-foot shot past Muslera.

The visitors could have doubled their lead five minutes later but Giovinco’s right-foot effort was comfortable for Muslera.

Lazio missed a good chance to equalise with two minutes remaining when Baronio’s free-kick hit the wall.

And Juve made no mistake soon after. Muslera failed to hold onto Amauri’s close-range effort from Giovinco’s cross and Trezeguet coolly slotted past the keeper.