Serie A leaders Juventus returned from their winter break to demonstrate their fearsome Scudetto credentials with a 3-0 dismantling of Bologna on Sunday night.
Gonzalo Higuaín reached 12 league goals for the season by scoring in each half, with Paulo Dybala celebrating his first start since a lengthy injury lay-off with a successful penalty just before half-time. Patrice Evra was left out of the Juventus team amid reports he could leave this month.
Roma’s narrow victory at Genoa earlier in the day had slashed the gap to first place to a single point but Massimiliano Allegri’s men are once again four points out in front and also boast a game in hand.
Roma had managed to keep the pressure on Juve by beating Genoa 1-0 at the Marassi - but they needed a first-half own goal from Armando Izzo to get over the line. The Giallorossi had not won outside of Rome since late October.
City rivals Lazio also remain in the title race after Ciro Immobile’s last-gasp strike earned them a 1-0 home win over Crotone, with Lucas Biglia missing a penalty for the Biancocelesti earlier in the game.
Hot on the heels of the capital club are Atalanta, 4-1 victors at Chievo thanks to a brace from Alejandro Gomez and further goals from Andrea Conti and Remo Freuler, while Sergio Pellissier notched the consolation in Verona.
Internazionale, despite their early season woes, look set to compete for a European berth after recovering from behind to down Udinese 2-1 at the Dacia Arena.
Jakub Jankto had boosted the Bianconeri ahead but Ivan Perisic equalised in first-half stoppage time before grabbing a winner three minutes from time.
Later on, Carlos Bacca delivered a 1-0 AC Milan success over 10-man Cagliari at San Siro, with visiting defender Bruno Alves seeing red at the death.
Elsewhere, former Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani made his Sassuolo debut as the Neroverdi played out a goalless draw with Torino in Reggio Emilia.
Pescara were due to host Fiorentina but the game was postponed due to snow on the east coast.