Monday 27 February 2017 10:08, UK
Juventus extended their lead at the top of Serie A to 10 points with a 2-0 win over Empoli in Turin.
With Roma not in action until they head to the San Siro on Sunday evening to tackle Inter Milan, Massimiliano Allegri's men took full advantage as two second-half goals finally overcame the visitors, who are battling for points at the other end of the table.
Gonzalo Higuain and Mario Mandzukic both saw first-half chances squandered before the Bianconeri finally made the breakthrough on 52 minutes.
Juan Cuadrado clipped the ball into the Empoli penalty area from the right, where Mandzukic arrived to send a point-blank header goalwards.
Lukasz Skorupski pushed the ball up onto the bar, only for it to then deflect back in off the unfortunate keeper for an own goal as he fell to the floor.
Juventus killed the game off with a second just after the hour mark, when Brazilian Alex Sandro spun Empoli defender Vincent Laurini to fire a low shot into the far corner.
Substitute Paulo Dybala thought he had tapped in a third soon after coming on, but the close-range effort was ruled out for offside against Higuain as he cut the ball back from a rebound.
Earlier, Atalanta had pulled off a shock 2-0 win over Napoli at Stadio San Paolo despite being down to 10 men for the closing stages.
The visitors had started the day in fifth place, but would end up just three points behind Napoli, who had been out to leapfrog Roma up into second.
The Partenopei made a promising start and saw an effort from Lorenzo Insigne hit the top of the crossbar.
However, it was Atalanta who broke the deadlock on 28 minutes when defender Mattia Caldara headed in following a corner.
Napoli had a free-kick from Dries Mertens pushed up onto the crossbar by Atalanta keeper Etrit Berisha.
Just after the hour, Atalanta midfielder Franck Kessie was sent off after picking up two quick yellow cards.
The visitors, however, doubled their lead on 70 minutes when Caldara volleyed in from 12 yards to inflict a first Serie A defeat on Maurizio Sarri's men in 2017.
