Bresciano was back from suspension but couldn't prevent his team slipping to defeat.

Mohamed Sissoko and David Trezeguet scored the goals for the Bianconeri as they matched Inter's away win against Bologna earlier in the day.

Juve were made to work for their win against a determined and motivated Palermo side, but prevailed by taking their best chances well.

The Rosaneri could have led by two goals within the first five minutes, but were unable to find a way past Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, whose national team understudy Marco Amelia impressed at the other end of the field.

The win takes Juve five points clear of third-placed AC Milan, who host Cagliari tomorrow.

Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri initially denied his star striker Amauri an emotional return to his former home by choosing Trezeguet in the starting XI for the first time this season along with Vincenzo Iaquinta.

That meant Alessandro Del Piero was also rested, both in view of the midweek Champions League game at Chelsea.

Palermo were looking to take advantage of Juve having their thoughts on that game already and made a lively start.

A cross from former Juve full-back Federico Balzaretti found Fabrizio Miccoli at the far post. He cut inside and had a shot from close range saved instinctively by Buffon with Edison Cavani missing the rebound.

Minutes later, Miccoli did beat Buffon, but his rising shot cannoned down off the underside of the crossbar and away with Mark Bresciano this time missing the rebound.

Trezeguet had Juventus' first chance early on after Pavel Nedved sent the ball in from a quick throw-in on the left, but the French striker missed at the far post.

Juve went ahead in the 27th minute thanks to a fine individual goal from Sissoko, who picked the ball up just inside the Palermo half, left Fabio Liverani in his wake, side-stepped Cesare Bovo and unleashed an unstoppable shot past Amelia into the top right-hand corner of the goal.

The first half ended with a flurry of chances at both ends.

Nedved and Iaquinta found their match in Amelia before Cavani dragged his shot wide from the edge of the penalty area.

The home side continued to look for an equaliser, even moving up a gear in the second half.

The best chance fell to former Juve midfielder Antonio Nocerino, whose volley from a tight angle was tipped over the crossbar by Buffon in the 64th minute.

Ranieri finally gave Amauri his wish of playing at the Renzo Barbera again in the 75th minute, and he showed little sentiment for his former team-mates and supporters as he looked for a goal.

He almost found one with his first touch, but a reflex save from Amelia denied him.

But there was nothing Amelia could do about Juve's second goal, scored by Trezeguet in the 79th minute.

Amauri cut in from the left and pulled the ball back to Trezeguet, whose shot took a deflection off the inside of Simon Kjaer's leg to wrong-foot Amelia and seal the win for the Bianconeri.