Juventus extend lead as Napoli lose

After easing into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday, Juventus' week got even better as they extended their Serie A lead to nine points with a 1-0 victory against Calcio Catania, coupled with SSC Napoli's 2-0 defeat at AC Chievo Verona.

It appeared that the Turin club would only stretch their advantage by one point over the Partenopei, but Emanuele Giaccherini struck in added time to rub salt into Napoli's wounds. Indeed, Juve's closest rivals were stung when Boukary Drame's long-range effort and a Cyril Théréau strike earned Chievo a 2-0 home triumph, with Edinson Cavani unable to beat goalkeeper Christian Puggioni from a second-half penalty.

ACF Fiorentina were another side content with their day's work as they triumphed 2-0 at S.S. Lazio courtesy of goals from Stevan Jovetić and Adem Ljajić. The result lifted the Viola ahead of their opponents and FC Internazionale Milano into fourth, with Inter succumbing to an Alberto Gilardino strike on 57 minutes as they slipped to a 1-0 home loss to Bologna FC.

Elsewhere, Cagliari Calcio brought UC Sampdoria's six-game undefeated run to an end as Segundo Ibarbo's hat-trick gave them a 3-1 home win, while AC Siena came from behind to earn a crucial 2-1 success against fellow relegation-battlers US Città di Palermo. Like Palermo, Pescara Calcio are five points from safety following their 2-1 reverse at Atalanta BC, while Amauri struck a treble in Parma FC's 4-1 win against Torino FC.