Juventus blew Udinese away at the Stadio Friuli to record their 10th consecutive Serie A victory.
The reigning champions are now second after a brace from Paulo Dybala and goals from Sami Khedira and Alex Sandro confirmed an emphatic away win before the half-time whistle.
Udinese, who had Danilo sent off when conceding a penalty, suffered a 4-0 defeat at home for the second time this season having lost to Inter Milan by the same scoreline last month.
Luciano Spalletti was denied victory on his return to the Roma dugout as Hellas Verona forced a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Olimpico.
After a seven-year absence from the capital, Spalletti has replaced Rudi Garcia as Giallorossi boss and Radja Nainggolan gave him some early cause to be cheerful.
Giampaolo Pazzini's second-half penalty then secured a deserved share of the points for winless Hellas, who remain rooted to the foot of the table, 12 points adrift of safety.
Carlos Bacca's early goal set AC Milan on their way to a 2-0 win over Fiorentina which eased the pressure on Sinisa Mihajlovic.
Bacca capped a swift counter-attack with a low shot across goal in the fourth minute of the match and Milan were decent value for their lead before half-time.
Fiorentina were much improved in the early stages of the second half but could not find a breakthrough and Milan sealed it two minutes from time through substitute Kevin-Prince Boateng.
Lazio fought back from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw at Bologna.
Emanuele Giaccherini's long-range free-kick got Bologna up and running and Mattia Destro doubled the hosts' lead.
But the tide turned against the Gialloblu when they lost Adam Masina to a red card, with Antonio Candreva converting the subsequent penalty and Senad Lulic grabbing a late leveller.
Genoa pulled seven points clear of the relegation zone with a 4-0 home win over 10-man Palermo.
Suso blasted home the opener and Leonardo Pavoletti scored twice after Sinisa Andjelkovic had been sent off for the Sicilians. Tomas Rincon provided the Grifone's other goal.
Palermo are now looking over their shoulders at Carpi, who claimed three crucial points in their own battle to beat the drop by downing Sampdoria 2-1 at the Stadio Alberto Braglia.
Lorenzo Lollo fired the Biancorossi into the lead and, after Joaquin Correa notched for Sampdoria, Jerry Mbakogu's penalty brought Carpi to within four points of 17th-placed Palermo.
Elsewhere, goals in either half from Alberto Paloschi and Lorenzo Tonelli saw Chievo and Empoli share a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi.
Source: PA-WIRE
