Juventus and AC Milan remain tied at the top of Serie A after both returned to action with wins, the Bianconeri triumphing 1-0 at US Lecce and the champions prevailing 2-0 against Atalanta BC.

Antonio Conte's Juventus made a winning start to 2012 thanks to Alessandro Matri's close-range header (27) at bottom side Lecce. That took them on to 37 points, the same tally as the Rossoneri, who owed their win to Zlatan Ibrahimović's 22nd-minute penalty – his 12th league effort this term – and Kevin-Prince Boateng's late finish (82).

Before that, Udinese Calcio briefly went top by beating second-bottom AC Cesena 4-1, Antonio Di Natale notching a first-minute opener and rounding off the scoring eight minutes from time – also taking his Serie A tally to 12 – after Kwadwo Asamoah (54) and Dušan Basta (75) had likewise found the net for the hosts. Cesena's task was not aided by a red card for Maurizio Lauro with just under half an hour left.

Elsewhere, a pair of Francesco Totti penalties helped fifth-placed AS Roma beat AC Chievo Verona 2-0, Bologna FC overcame Calcio Catania 2-0, ACF Fiorentina won 3-0 at Novara Calcio and Cagliari Calcio defeated Genoa CFC by the same scoreline. SSC Napoli secured a 3-1 success at US Città di Palermo in the late game.