Roma strengthened their grip on a UEFA Champions League place as Miralem Pjanic's first-half strike was enough to see off Napoli in a 1-0 Serie A victory, but Lazio kept pace with a 3-1 triumph at Cagliari.
Rudi Garcia's men have endured a tough 2015 and had won just three league matches this year leading up to Saturday's contest, a run that has halted their title bid and left them battling to play in Europe's premier competition next season.
But Pjanic rounded off a fine team move in the 25th minute as Roma earned back-to-back victories, while goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis also impressed as a frustrated Napoli failed to win for a fifth straight league game and saw their own Champions League prospects dented.
A routine - if slightly unconvincing - 2-0 win over Empoli was enough for Juventus to restore their 14-point cushion over Roma, with Carlos Tevez starring in the absence of several key men.
Claudio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba were among the absentees for Juve, but Tevez stepped up and proved instrumental for both of his side's goals, initially opening the scoring just before the break with an emphatic finish from an indirect free-kick.
Empoli twice went close to beating Gianluigi Buffon at the other end, but any hopes of a late comeback were thwarted by Roberto Pereyra, who was left with an easy finish after a Tevez effort was parried straight to the midfielder.
Lazio remain hot on Roma's heels after earning maximum points thanks to goals from Miroslav Klose, Lucas Biglia and Marco Parolo.
Stefano Pioli's side had seen their lead wiped out by Marco Sau early in the second half, but they responded well and punished Cagliari after Mobido Diakite had been sent off to record a seventh successive league win.
Jeremy Menez eased the pressure on Filippo Inzaghi as he snatched a 2-1 victory for Milan with an 83rd-minute strike against Palermo, keeping their late European charge on course.
Torino are right with Inzaghi's side after a 2-1 victory over Atalanta, Mauricio Pinilla's stunning consolation for the strugglers - a superb overhead kick - the high point of a game that saw both sides have a man sent off in stoppage time.
Things looked to be going to plan for Inter, too, as they took a 25th-minute lead against beleaguered Parma through Fredy Guarin.
However, Andi Lila earned Parma an unexpected 1-1 draw with his first goal for the club just before the break, leaving Inter further behind in the race for Europe.
Relegation-threatened Cesena fought back from three goals down to earn a 3-3 draw in a thriller at Verona, while 10-man Sassuolo won 1-0 at home to Chievo, and Genoa drew 1-1 with Udinese.