Serie A: Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri demands more respect for his side

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri believes his team is not receiving the respect it deserves and is predicting a long fight for the Serie A title.

The Italian champions won 3-1 at Napoli on Sunday, their first win at the San Paolo in 15 years, to move three points clear of Roma at the top of the standings.

Napoli felt the Turin giants were given a helping hand after the referee allowed Juve's second goal to stand despite Martin Caceres being in an offside position when he headed in Andrea Pirlo's cross past Napoli goalkeeper Rafael.

"I believe we played a good game and it wasn't easy," Allegri told Gazzetta dello Sport. "We deserved the win.

"When refereeing decisions go against us, everyone is happy, but when they go in our favour it's a controversy.

"Controversies only create problems. You have to practice what you preach.

"Mistakes happen and everybody makes them, even referees.

"In Italy there is the habit of not accepting a defeat or the refereeing decisions.

"If every time mistakes were made we had to drop a referee there would be nobody left to officiate."

Juve had gone into Sunday's game looking to avenge last month's defeat to Napoli in the Italian Super Cup final in Doha.

The Bianconeri lost 6-5 on penalties after the game had ended 2-2 after extra-time.

"We really needed this hard-fought victory," Allegri said. "We have taken back what had been taken away from us in Doha."

The victory coupled with Roma's 2-2 draw against Lazio on Sunday allowed the Bianconeri to regain a three-point advantage at the top of the table.

Allegri expects the battle for the Serie A title to go down to the wire.

"There is still a long way to go," he said. "Juve have won the Scudetto three years in a row but that certainly doesn't mean a fourth is to be taken for granted.

"We are also competing in the Champions League and the Coppa Italia.

"We still have room for improvement. We need to more clinical and when our rivals are wounded, we must go for the kill."

Juve square off against Hellas Verona in Turin in Thursday's round of 16 of the Coppa Italia before hosting the Verona outfit again in Serie A three days later.