Del Piero hits hat-trick as Juventus go clear in Serie B

ROME, Feb 17 (Reuters) Alessandro Del Piero scored a hat-trick as Juventus routed Crotone 5-0 to go three points clear at the top of Italy's Serie B today.

The win gave Juventus 43 points after 23 matches, taking into account a nine-point penalty imposed as punishment for its part in a match-fixing scandal.

They are three points ahead of Mantova, who beat Lecce 4-0.

Napoli, also on 40 points, will draw level with Juve if they beat Arezzo tomorrow.

Juventus took control of the match with early goals by Pavel Nedved and Federico Balzaretti.

Italy international Del Piero grabbed his first goal on the stroke of halftime, jinking round a defender on the edge of the area before firing in a low left-footed shot.

He got another at the end of a solo run midway through the second half and completed his hat-trick in the 79th minute, after being put through by strike partner David Trezeguet.

REUTERS AB BD2343