Juve retained their three-point lead at the top with their road win, which came thanks to two first-half goals.

Striker Alessandro Matri scored the opener after 10 minutes to silence the home crowd in Verona.

And Swiss defender Stephan Lichtsteiner doubled the advantage three minutes before half-time to put Antonio Conte's side in the box seat for victory.

They were given some nervy moments in the second half though, as Chievo – who pulled a goal back through Frenchman Cyril Thereau seven minutes after the break – went in search of an equaliser.

But Juventus held firm to seal an important win that continued their breathing space over the second-placed Napoli.

The Naples-based club were comfortable 2-0 home winners over Catania at the Stadio San Paolo in front of 36,000 fans.

Slovakian Marek Hamsik scored the game's first goal after 31 minutes and Paolo Cannavaro also netted in the first half as Walter Mazzarri's side won all three points.

In the late kick-off, Mario Balotelli made an instant impact at AC Milan following his 17 million-euro transfer from Manchester City.

The striker netted twice - including a last-minute penalty - as Milan defeated Udinese 2-1 at San Siro.

Lazio and Inter – third and fourth respectively – both lost as they lost further ground on the league's top two.

Genoa saw off Lazio 3-2 with substitute Marco Rigoni getting the winner in the fifth minute of injury time.

The winners had Lazio on the back foot after Marco Borriello and Andrea Bertolacci scored inside the first 25 minutes but they staged a second half fight back.

Sergio Floccari gave Lazio a lifeline with his goal on 59 minutes before Stefano Mauri's late penalty looked to have sealed a draw.

But Rigoni had other ideas, converting Andreas Granqvist's assist to send the home fans wild.

Bottom-placed Siena pulled off the surprise of the day with a 3-1 home win over Inter.

Innocent Emeghara, Alessio Sestu and Alessandro Rosina netted for the victors who moved to within goal difference of the second-from-bottom Palermo, who lost 2-1 at home to Atalanta.

The day's other match saw the fifth-placed Fiorentina beat Parma 2-0 thanks to goals from Luca Toni and Stevan Jovetic.