Juventus hold chasing pack at bay

Juventus continue to set the pace atop Serie A thanks to a 2-0 victory at Atalanta BC that preserved their one-point advantage over AC Milan and earned them the unofficial title of winter champions – leaders at the halfway stage of the season.

Second-half strikes by Stephan Lichtsteiner and Emanuele Giaccherini kept the Bianconeri unbeaten this term, although Milan are just a point back thanks to a 3-0 defeat of Novara Calcio in which Zlatan Ibrahimović registered either side of a Robinho effort.

Udinese Calcio remain in third, two points behind the Rossoneri, as Antonio Di Natale moved alongside Ibrahimović in the division's scoring charts after claiming his 14th of the campaign in a 2-1 success against Catania Calcio.

As for FC Internazionale Milano, they came from behind to complete their seventh successive league victory and leapfrog S.S. Lazio, whom they defeated 2-1, into fourth place. Diego Milito cancelled out Tommaso Rocchi's opener before Giampaolo Pazzini struck a second-half winner at San Siro.

Elsewhere, AS Roma and US Città di Palermo flexed their muscles as AC Cesena and Genoa CFC were beaten 5-1 and 5-3 respectively. SSC Napoli drew 1-1 at AC Siena and the matches pitting Bologna FC against Parma FC, and Cagliari Calcio against ACF Fiorentina finished goalless.