Juventus have defeated 10-man Brescia 2-0 to reclaim top spot in Italy's Serie A and they lead Lazio by a point after the capital side rallied to beat Inter Milan 2-1.
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The Bianconeri lead on 57 points from 24 games and will welcome third-placed Inter (54) on March 1.
Lazio produced long periods of choking pressing at the brimming Stadio Olimpico and attacking midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic had an effort hit the bar in the ninth minute before he fired home the winner after a goal-line clearance in the 69th.
The Roman hosts, however, fell behind to Ashley Young's drive after keeper Thomas Strakosha denied Antonio Candreva.
The January signing from Manchester United scored his first goal for Inter in the 44th but in the 50th saw home captain Ciro Immobile level from the spot after being fouled by Stefan De Vrij.
Immobile tops the scoring chart on 26 goals and had a late break bravely stopped by keeper Daniele Padelli.
Earlier in Turin, Paulo Dybala opened for the unimpressive champions by curling in a free kick in the first half after Florian Aye was dismissed for a second booking and Juan Cuadrado struck late in the game against the second-bottom side.
Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo was rested after being on target for 10 successive league games, while Giorgio Chiellini returned to the pitch in the 78th minute, six months after knee surgery.
Hosts Juve, however, displayed little improvement from the sluggish showings that led to away defeats at Napoli and Verona earlier this month.
"The worst is over but now the toughest part begins," Chiellini said about his efforts to regain top form as Juve battle in the domestic league and cup, and with the Champions League resuming next week.
Udinese and in-form newcomers Verona played to a goalless draw in a tactical day opener at Udine's Friuli stadium, where scoring chances were scarce as strikers from both sides had trouble against tight defences.
Verona are sixth and in the Europa League zone but they could be leapfrogged by AC Milan if the Rossoneri beat Torino at home on Monday.
Udinese sit 15th, four points above the drop zone.
Parma trail Verona on goal difference after Ivory Coast veteran Gervinho tapped in for their 1-0 win in a regional derby at Sassuolo.
Napoli, meanwhile, moved to eighth, two points off the Europa League zone, with a 1-0 win at Cagliari sealed by Dries Mertens' clinical shot.
Mid-table Fiorentina won 5-1, with a Federico Chiesa brace, at lowly Sampdoria, who had Nicola Murro dismissed before the Florentines' captain Milan Badelj also was handed a second caution.
Australian Associated Press
