Juventus moved level at the top with Inter when Claudio Marchisio's first Serie A goal sealed a fortunate 1-0 win over Fiorentina last night.
The 23-year-old midfielder coolly finished off Alessandro Del Piero's delightful pass midway through the first half on a freezing Turin night.
"I must thank Alex, he's given me a splendid assist," Marchisio told Sky. "I'm so happy for this goal, finally my first. It is a very important result for the future."
Fiorentina had several chances to equalise but Mario Santana's header hit the bar and Alberto Gilardino had a strike wrongly ruled out for offside before the fit-again Gianluigi Buffon saved the forward's flick.
Stevan Jovetic also had a strong appeal for a penalty rejected when he went down under Olof Mellberg's challenge.
Despite Fiorentina's pressure, the home side could have extended their lead with Del Piero again producing an exquisite through-ball to release Marco Marchionni but the winger was twice denied by Sebastien Frey.
Juve, in their second season back in the top-flight after their 2006 demotion for match-fixing, have returned to the top on the sixth anniversary of the death of famous owner and Fiat head Gianni Agnelli.
Champions Inter, who lost 3-1 at Atalanta last weekend, can reclaim the lead outright tonight if they at least draw at home to Sampdoria. Top striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is suspended for Jose Mourinho's side.
Third-placed Milan travel to Bologna this afternoon.
In yesterday's early game, Vincenzo Italiano smashed the ball home from distance in injury time to give Chievo a controversial 1-0 win at fellow Serie A strugglers Reggina.
The sides were joint-bottom before kick-off but Reggina now prop up the rest having conceded a goal moments after striker Bernardo Corradi had a second penalty appeal turned down when he was again manhandled by Chievo's Davide Mandelli.
Reggina also lost Carlos Carmona to a straight red card four minutes before the break when the midfielder aggressively thrust the ball into the chest of Chievo's Luca Rigoni.