Top scorer Mauro Icardi watched from the stands as Inter Milan strengthened their grip on third place in Serie A with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Sampdoria at San Siro.
Icardi was stripped of the captaincy and refused to travel for the midweek Europa League game in Vienna amid ongoing contractual issues.
Inter were forced to battle in his absence, with all three goals coming in a five-minute spell deep into the second half.
Danilo D’Ambrosio opened the scoring for the hosts after 73 minutes but Sampdoria substitute Manolo Gabbiadini equalised almost immediately.
Radja Nainggolan came to Inter’s rescue three minutes later when he scored the winner with a low shot from the edge of the box.
Second-placed Napoli sit 13 points behind runaway leaders Juventus after being held to a goalless draw at home to Torino.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men missed a handful of chances in an entertaining game while Brazilian Allan was spared a sending-off in injury time after his initial red card was rescinded by VAR due to mistaken identity.
Radja Nainggolan celebrates his winner for Inter.
Lazio’s fading hopes of closing in on a Champions League qualifying place were further hit as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at Genoa.
The visitors took the lead towards the end of the first half through Milan Badelj and could have doubled their advantage when the same player hit the bar.
But Genoa grabbed a 75th-minute equaliser when an attempted clearance by Lucas Leiva deflected in off Arnaldo Sanabria.
And another poor clearance deep into injury time fell to Domenico Criscito who fired home a low shot to grab a dramatic winner.
Fiorentina came from behind to win 4-1 at relegation-threatened SPAL in a game which hinged on a VAR decision.
Andrea Petagna’s opener for the hosts was cancelled out by Edimilson Fernandes just before half-time, but SPAL thought they had re-taken the lead on 77 minutes through Mattia Valoti.
Instead, play was brought back to the other end where a penalty was awarded to the visitors, Jordan Veretout putting Fiorentina 2-1 up.
Further goals from Giovanni Simeone and Gerson in the final 10 minutes gave the scoreline a flattering look.
Lukasz Teodorczyk struck an 86th-minute winner as Udinese claimed their first win in five games with a 1-0 triumph against bottom club Chievo.
Empoli ended a run of eight league games without a win as they brushed aside Sassuolo 3-0 with goals from Rade Krunic, Afriyie Acquah and Diego Farias.
